Blessed And Experiencing Favor After Knowing Jesus’ Love

First off, I want to thank you for writing Unmerited Favor as it has changed my life.

I am 57 years old and I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was eight. I went to church and Sunday school for many years, and was taught to ask for forgiveness whenever I sinned. In my early twenties, I began working as a professional drummer and got into a sinful lifestyle. I was using drugs, drinking alcohol and engaging in promiscuity with many different women. I thought I was on the top of the world but something was amiss and I felt very empty.

I knew Jesus loved me but as the years went by, I began to think that He only loved me at a distance as I didn’t feel like He was there for me after all the sins I’d committed. Year after year, I struggled with the thoughts of what I could do to be better and have Jesus forgive me. However, I felt as though I had crossed some point of no return, and that I was out of chances of being forgiven after having gone so far. I even had my doubts of making it to heaven.

So I looked into other religions, searching for some acceptance and happiness, but to no avail. Eventually, I got married and was blessed with two wonderful children. I also left the music scene and my life sort of settled down.

I began going to a church again but felt completely out of place because of my sinful past. I saw most of the folks happy, singing and enjoying the message, and felt like a big hypocrite and sinner.

All my life, I was under condemnation from listening to the wrong preaching, thinking that I had to atone for all of my sins. I also thought that Jesus didn’t love me and that He had allowed misfortunes to happen so as to punish me.

However, this wrong belief changed when my brother gave me your book, Unmerited Favor. I read it and cried like a baby! I finally understood that Lord Jesus loves me unconditionally and wants the best for me in all areas of my life. Yet, all this time, I had missed His real message and had lived with the weight of condemnation on my back!

Not long ago, we’d lost just about everything after my wife and I were laid off in 2009. We were able to keep our home but it was a real struggle. Just before the time I received your book, my wife landed a great job at the hospital in Gainesville Florida and since reading the book, I’ve found one a few miles from our home at an auto parts store.

Today, the blessings are flowing! My sales number is the highest in the store for the last five weeks and I have only been there for two months. Things are looking up but the greatest change for me is to know in my heart that Jesus loves me and has put away all my sins at the cross.

I now have a song in my heart and am able to thank Him for His strength and love so that I may share it for His glory.