Episode 8: From Atheist to Devoted Believer: What God Had Planned All Along

Join Gloria as she shares her transformative journey from atheism to faith, revealing how loss, gratitude, and adoption unveiled God's plan in her life. Through personal battles with grief, health crises, and cultural barriers, Gloria's story illustrates the power of divine timing and spiritual growth. Discover how her encounters with Jesus, inspired by music and curiosity, led to a life of purpose and reassurance. Perfect for anyone seeking hope and understanding of God's plan, this episode offers a powerful reminder of faith's ability to turn pain into purpose.

thesoakingground.info@gmail.com

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." - Revelation 12:11

Transcript

Journey from China to America

Tasha 0:05

You're listening to the Soaking Ground, a podcast for spiritually dry and weary souls, and just as the rain soaks the earth, healing and recharging it, God wants to saturate the earth with testimony of salvation and life through Jesus, the source of living water.

Gloria 0:28

My name is Gloria, and I am originally from China. I was born and raised in China for my whole life until I was it 25 as I moved back to America with my husband. And my first our first baby was born there as well. I have never heard about the Lord before, um, until I was almost 20 years old. I went to college in the capital of our country, and from a small city to the big city, um, I haven't come across many interesting people, and then one of the couple is an American professor. So I was actually trying to sell them like orchestral tickets to them. They're inviting me to church instead as well. So I say that's cool. And uh it's gonna be an English church, there's gonna be a lot of people, just check it out. It's my first time heard about the church, the vocabulary, I don't know what to expect, but I know there's gonna be foreigners. So deep down I was really excited with the foreigners. So Bible didn't really mean anything to me at that moment because never read before, never heard about John, and but they worship music. I love music, so that has spoken to me. Feels right in there, but really I don't understand the words. So that's the first time I had interactions with Christianity. I think I got my first English-Chinese Bible from this uh professor shortly after, really, um, that told me to read a book of John. I opened a one page, like, who's

First Encounters with Christianity

Gloria 2:18

this guy? I don't really understand him. So it's kind of just push aside. Moving along, that was also the year that I found out my dad got um sick was cancer. So every summer, uh after college year, I had been spend the time in the hospital with him. So this one summer, my friend said, like, you spend too much time in the hospital. You need to come to like join this English camp. It's super fun. I was just like, okay, the way to get me out of it was the foreigner. Again, uh, I joined this English summer camp. Actually, a lot of people that I met till friends still till this day is from that summer camp. Uh my husband actually is my English teacher at that year. But we didn't like each other then, just FYI, to be frank, with that? Shortly like a fast forward for like three years moved on. Um, my dad's still sick, had a good battle with the cancer. Thus the summer he passed away, before he passed away, I decided like really God in my life. Because he has placed I think those questions that uh the American couple, the professor who taught me, um, just planted the seeds and watered along the way. Tell me that, you know what? God must love you so much. Because when you're in Beijing, that we look out for you. And when you go back to your hometown, you have all the people that you have met and look out you as you go as well. So I was just like, oh, you're right. I remember specifically like, so in China that you don't really um provide for yourself through college. Your parents are supposed to pay for everything, you don't need to work, you just enjoy your life really during college. But unfortunately, because the cancer, that my mom already like paid a fortune for the medical bill. So I have been like working since I first started college. I taught English, I did marketing for a company since my major was a business management. Because all those things pay the bill. So I have saved this big amount of money in my mind

Navigating Personal Loss and Faith

Gloria 4:35

I can save. Like I think it's about like maybe RB to a dollar was like $300. It's not much, really, to think back. But it was a lot for me. So I was riding the bus to the hospital, someone pickpocketed me on the bus. So I was devastated. And I remember I didn't get to pay the bill. So I didn't tell my parents that happened. So I went to my friends who's a lady that disciple me later on. I was sharing this with her and not expecting anything really. Later after the dinner, they put me aside to say, hey, like we have been praying that uh we want to help you to just replace what you lost. And so, like, oh my goodness, like, when I have it, I'll definitely repay it. No, we're not asking that at all. So that was one of the moment it was so vivid for me, still till this day, that a moment like, oh Lord, really had people in the life for me when I was in needed. So fast forward, I got a great opportunity to exchange like students to senior year, finished my college in um abroad, in our country. I got there 10 days, my dad passed away. It was I was new, very new believers. Like it was all this kind of new thing. Obviously, no rules, lack of the freedoms, like everything you can't explore. Just remind you, that was only four months in as a Christian at that point. I mean, I have a crazy friend so that running naked in the middle of the night, doing drugs, all that. For me, I was just like, what do I do at this point? Like, who who's the friend that I should be with? Luckily, like God connect me with a local group of college Christians. Wow, I was surrounded. Uh that year was very protected by him. Like walking through the grief is one thing. Walking through the grief like in another country that you cannot go back to see your parents or even be with your mom in that time, that was hard. So, but that was good. That's the teardrops. I know, right? Everybody have that moment. Yes, yes.

Cultural Adjustments and Spiritual Growth

Gloria 6:47

We fast forward, I got offer a job after I graduated. I was just like, wow, this is amazing. This is what I want to do. I always envision I'm gonna be a superwoman because I worked this time like the whole four years in my college life. I mean, this is what I want to do. In the meanwhile, I think I have the feeling before I left the country. I had a feeling for my husband. And I don't know what to choose. Like, should I go back home? So I have a be close with my mom, or I'm feeling like I really, really want to pursue a relationship back home as well. What is my heart calling? That God has very clear to point me back home, which really naturally helped uh accurate my relationship with my husband as well at that time. I mean then from ambitious businesswoman and we got married and I stayed at home. I want to say I was 24 when I had my first baby. Then we moved across. I mean, that's just the beginning, very beginning as a believer life of that time. But I was very young when that happened.

Ivet 8:03

So before you became a believer, did you experience anything prior to longing for something else spiritually?

Gloria 8:16

Honestly, no. Because like, as you know, like China, a lot of people is either atheist or like a Buddhist, like that believe like the luck, all that. I was always been taught growing up that you have to work hard, you only can depend on yourself, your successes depend how much work you put in. So like there was a lot of actual curriculum

Understanding Family Dynamics and Beliefs

Gloria 8:41

just for schoolwork. Like, I mean, I I did the instrument, was really young, like just the actual points like you can get on your report card, it was important. So there's not a lot of like a social life or things like that, or or just all we do is believe in ourselves.

Ivet 8:59

How did that make you feel though? Like, were you comfortable with walking like that? Just like believing yourself and just connect to the world, or did you feel like something was off? It was just very normal to you?

Gloria 9:12

It's very normal because it feels like that's how we raised. Even sometimes deep down now, as a believer and a move here, live in the States for more than uh 10 years now. Um, a lot of the mannerism, a lot of how I grow up, a the unities, like a lot of good stuff comes from that. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, um, but it's definitely something I got really used to. Respect the elders, like a deep down in my bone, like the individual is like a self-centered, like all these things I have to overcome raising my children here as like a big, big struggle for me at times, because it's very different. But like I never thought I was a bad person. I was my parents had to raise me. You need to be have a good manner, so you have to be respectful, you have to be polite. I don't think I ever really speak a swear word until I moved here, work in the hospital. That was really the case, like that. So there's a lot of things that's alongside later on when I read uh proverbs, I was a lot of Chinese sayings are really alongside with the wisdom in the Proverbs. So I think that's why I connect, I start reading the Bible with Proverbs instead of John, because drawn really didn't make any sense to me at the time. But the Proverbs, the wisdom, that was just like, oh, you know what? Like, there's some wisdom in this book. This book that is people keep talking about. So I started proverb reading proverb by that time. To be honest, I didn't realize I'm missing something, but now I look back, yes, I miss a lot. Because I can definitely see uh a lot of times by my own power, I still can't accomplish things. I worry so much. I still worry now, but a lot of time I have ease because I know God is in control.

Transformation Through Faith

Ivet 11:08

You talked about God watering that seed that was planted to you. When at what point was that where you knew or that or you felt like this is the Holy Spirit, and you know, like you accepted Jesus?

Gloria 11:22

So from the time I first heard about that till the time I accepted, it took about three years, at least. The first three years in college. I remember very vividly it was a celebration dinner for all of us. The all the girls in the dormitory were going out for lunch. It's a celebration that we all go in different like colleges. We're gonna leave abroad for a year. So we're celebrating. And my American parents was like, I call them American parents because they're really look out for me for that three years when I was in our city. So I just remember it was a sunny May afternoon. The sunshine is like a shining. I just saw this couple in front of me walking, just alongside each other, holding arms. Just like, this is the relationship I want to have when I was uh, you know, growing old. Because I know my parents love, like, I don't know their relationship. Like there is definitely some tension was there, it's never like that. They don't really communicate well, like they do. So like I just remember that vividly. And also, American mom said that uh God must love you so much. You have us here, and when you go back to your hometown, you have other family taking care of you when you need it. It's like, you're right. And like I said earlier, like it's like playing movies that you hardship, but at that hardship time, God just place the right person, the right thing, your knees. He filled it all. So it was a very shallow, shallow, shallow belief at that point because he filled your needs. Because I remember Proverb said he would provide. Like I firm believed that because I only see the needs. I didn't really long for the spiritual part that, to be honest. Like, I don't want to lie about that. That time it was very material. Like he provided all the needs I needed for that past three years. So I say, well, if someone can help me with that throughout my life, I think I'm gonna follow him.

Challenges of Belief and Family Expectations

Gloria 13:33

That's really the beginning of this spiritual. And also, I think I have feelings for my husband back then, and he is already very mature believers, and I just see this character. He's so different from the guy I had a b like a relationship before. Just I could be who I am with him, just like his friendship, the respect, the maturity, the humility. I was like, I wanna know, like what eat you here? You know, but that is just I think part of his like if I'm a believer, maybe I have a better chance to be with him. Also that in the back of my mind. Now look at my oh meant to be. Yeah, meant to be. Yeah.

Ivet 14:20

Gloria. Do you want to talk about when you told your parents that you became a believer? What happened? How did the the relationship between you and your family turn out? Absolutely.

Gloria 14:32

I don't think my dad knows I was a believer. Because he passed really at a point of like a become a believer, more vocal about it. I mean, the first year when I was a believer, I was away from my mom. My mom really doesn't know what's going on. Like, you know, I don't really share a lot of things. I mean, we communicate, but it's a very like a superficial. Like, they all they care is your grades, are you doing well? Uh, are you behaving? Do you have enough? Like, did you eat well? Did you sleep well? Like, that's really my parents care about. So it's taken me maybe, I want to say when I got baptized, right before I moved back to China, and I came home and start hanging more with my friends who is a believer. And I told my mom, like, I was a Christian, and I'm gonna start volunteer at the local orphanage once a week, start doing all these things that's not making money. My mom said, Why are you spending all this time not making money? So she doesn't really understand that. Even like the fact that I would stay home with my kids and not using my degree that I worked hard for, that has built a really burden for between

The Role of Faith in Parenting

Gloria 15:46

me and her as well. Even I was a believer, keep telling her the importance of being a stay-at-home mom, the privilege to stay home. Not everybody can do that. It would just have a lot of strength, a lot a lot of tension build up between us. Not until my mom actually visits us for the first time in the state, and she sees the importance of me taking care of my kids, raising my kids the way I am doing. She starts listening more why I follow the Lord. But of course, I have been praying for her till this day. She's still not a believer, but she has been open more and more about the conversation that understand respectfully about we're going to church on Sunday. Like the volunteer things I do, the importance of why I want to stay home, going back to school later. Yeah, so it creates definitely strength, but now it has been more and more understandable. Definitely the value is different. The value we focus on is very different than what she has known for her whole life. Which is I I mean, for the most of my life, all I know is that you know, make money, you need to have a house, you need to marry a good husband, and you need to be successful in your career. You should have in control of the whole finance in your household. That's how I've been told about growing up. But that is totally very differently um for my marriage. So it was definitely very humbling. So here's a good question.

Ivet 17:23

Was there that feeling that you feel like I've done something that was a scene and I am turning away from it now that I follow the Lord? Was there is there something you want to share? Wow.

Gloria 17:35

Okay. This sounds might sound weird. Like I growing up, I'm very behaving.

Reflections on Personal Growth and Identity

Gloria 17:41

Like it's really hard for people, like, like you're really not allowed to date. It's pretty pretty conservative growing up. Like you're not really having sex, like before marriage, things like that. Like, have a boyfriend, like, it was like a sane sin to your parents at that point. It's the biggest sin we were in school. So, like, I wouldn't say uh I was never sinned before for sure. Like the lie, the thing, anything that you do that is really against God's will was, you know, sinful. But it's challenging for me to think back of maybe the the submit part, like for me, like you've been told you need to be independent, you need to really have like in control things, and now to a marriage that got telling to be submissive to your husband, to submit. Like my husband is great, like it's not very hard for me to submit to him, but there's time like okay, when whenever I'm staying at home, like stay home with the kids, not making any incomes, and all I see from my side is spending, that hurts my ego. I think probably the struggle is the ego. I probably start still struggle with that pride. And I think I struggle that daily when I was stayed home with my kids. I mean, now it's like I work, but I have to like, you know, come back on the hours because I feel like I'm maybe not giving my children the best myself or my husband. You know, when you make contributions at work and then people give you compliments, all that things, you're doing a great job. That kind of like, okay, I feel full, I feel more fulfilled at this area. I'm gonna longing that for more instead of like you bring the worst home, then and you totally miss that your priority is your household, your kids. So I am learning that. So, but in all I say is really just the old me is what I'm trying to overcome. The old self that uh the whole growing up and this non-believing, the value built in me. There's a good thing and bad things come to that. So it's really relearning myself from that.

Ivet 19:57

How is your relationship with your husband and your children now that Jesus is in in your life and in your family's life?

Gloria 20:05

When we first got married, I was still in that early believer stage. And uh like two years later, I got my daughter. I mean, there's a lot of time like learning about how to hold my tongues, like pick out your husbands, you think it's funny, and things like you learn as your life going. The respect, how to submit to your husband willingly. I think I see myself,

Navigating Marriage and Communication Challenges

Gloria 20:31

I mean, we've been married almost like we're going out 15 years, but uh I have seen myself willing to submit him uh every day. And uh as the day goes, when the struggle comes, just like I was like, okay, he's right. And it's very humbling. And we really had a really good time. When we first moved back, it was really challenging because we didn't move back to where the home churches who had to go to a new city due to his job. So it's just me and him and our 10 months old, and I couldn't drive, and I don't really know anybody. We don't have a home church in that city. He works really hard to provide during the week, Monday to Friday. I'm stuck at this uh condo with my 10 months old, so I got super good at online shopping because I can't go anywhere. But that has forced us to communicate because he's my best friend. Like I always want him to be my best friend. Like, even at times I I remember it was I was so homesick. I was crying every day because the the ideal of moving across the world to a new place, the excitement sets aside, and now it's a reality. Like, dude, you got you you got cooked. I'm I'm tired. I was pregnant, it was my second child. I find out I was pregnant was our second child. A week before I moved across the world. That was not my plan at all. Not our plan, but it was in God's control. So like w had to figure out all this insurance things. Or about like a pay out of pocket for like this whole hospital burst because I don't I cannot get on insurance. So all these things that a lot of stress, really, but like God used that year to really gave us the foundation of our relationship to communicate on hard questions, communicate on hard topics, and how to resolve issues. I can tell you that my husband has never let me go to bed angry. Even I decided to go to bed angry. If I'm asleep, he'll woke me up in the middle of the night to talk about it. Sometimes I think I just so tired about talking about it. So I just like, you won, you're right. And then I'm not angry no more. But now it's become like the cool-off time. It's getting shorter and shorter. We're able to get right back to talk about it, solve it. So I have to give him kudos for doing that for this 14 years. Really, the whole relationship, we didn't let anger go through the night. That was amazing. He he did a really good job on that. So I think that really credits to the Lord for that have that foundation. And now I always remember someone telling me that your relationship in the household is how God wants you to center, and the kids just come alongside you. So when they see us able to communicate like that, they feel very secure with how we do. And they know from the big beginning that me and my husband are on the same page. You maybe we can disagree in the bedroom behind them, but in front of the kids, we really don't disagree on issues. So when it comes to parenting, which is really, really helpful because I see that when I grow up, parents just have big arguments in front of us. And I will take advantage of go to one parent and jump to the other. I guess that's it. Now I have that question answered. I do have maybe being like sneaky about doing things that behind parents, but you know, take advantage of that. I think every kid does that before. And my kids tried, but not very successful.

Faith and Resilience Through Life's Trials

Ivet 24:30

How does your relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit refresh you daily? Great question.

Gloria 24:35

For me, it will be a different stage of life. I think like um I view it a little different uh be when I was a stay-home mom. And uh view it different when I was you know, different so like I when I was in nursing school. I went back to school when my like after COVID, I was like, oh, this is my chest. Everything went online. I'm gonna do everything online, start all over again. Which is like a lot of people think, like, it's wow, how did you survive that? With all kids at home like doing that. I was like, not by my own power, only the Lord can help me with that. And through my surgery, I had uh unexpected total hysterectomy. Um me a year ago, really. I mean, I was in the ER by myself, but I had this total peace. Like, it's crazy. Like when the doctor came in and tells me that you had this 10-pound tumor on your left ovary, it was like, what? And my husband was out of town that day. So I'm just in the busy ER all by myself. Yeah, but somehow I just have this total peace, like guys with me the whole time. And I have that peace like throughout my nursing school, and when I'm taking my test with that 10-pound tumor, actually, I passed my boards with that 10-pound tumor in my body, which I don't know about. So I think God has looked over me so that I know no matter what happened, and the God is good. So I always start with that. Even as like my work is stressful, more of my children is giving them a hard time. I'm just like, God is good. Let me figure it out what he really wants to teach me here, right? Because you learn a little bit different each day as you go with your life. I mean, I learned how to be a wife, I learned how to be a mom, still doing that, learning that. I think that's like a constantly different stage of life. So as I used to stay home with a toddler, which I saw that was so easy in that moment. I was like, I can't wait for them to grow up, like be independent doing that. Now I have like teenagers in middle schooler. I was just like, can you just go back to the age that you don't talk back anymore? So I know you're like, you all have been there done that like a felt me. And but God has given me grace, given me guidance through each stage. So I'm kind of like a learning every day. My flesh is really weak, but my spirit is strong. So we um his broken vessels. And until the day he decided that I don't need you no more, I'm gonna be here, be useful every day. So that's my daily learning. I just more and more and more affirm my faith compared to before. Even I don't understand. I don't understand all the things, but I know he's good, and that's enough. I can figure out the rest. Maybe I don't, but that's okay.

The Impact of Faith on Relationships

Ivet 27:29

How does your relationship with Jesus flow out to the people that are running on you?

Gloria 27:33

So I I don't know how people view me. Really, I want to be a faithful servant. That's really what I want to be. So I really, really try hard. Like, okay, if I am like not waking up tomorrow, I want to be remembered, like I have done everything. I want to have peace about oh, I did everything. Really, I'm not scared to go tomorrow. I can be more a person though. So I find out I was adopted last year on my birthday. I'm like 36 years old, my life. Now I found out as an adult, I was adopted by my parents. I mean, the moment like the the m- the way my mom picked the place that's right in front of church, the lobby, just times I feel this is the great place to tell you that. I'm like, mom, are you seriously? Now I'm like on my birthday telling me this. But the moment she tell me what happened, now I look back and was like, oh, that makes sense. That makes sense to me now. But like, that has protected me so long, there's no anger, there's no like anything but gratitude. The gratitude for like how brave for my parents who can't have kids at back that time, it's only child policy, one child policy back in China. Like abortion is like birth control, right? And how great, how brave is my birth mom, who already have three children, decided to keep me just to see. I mean, I sure hope she was she was hoping for a boy, but ends up I'm the you know, the girl. But like she could have borne me easily. So like I'm gr I'm grateful, really, at that moment. And I just think how grateful my mom like how brave my mom is, my adoption mom, really, but I call her mom. One mom is enough. I mean, in that society, everybody wants a boy. And then she adopted me three days after I was born. She said like the moment she saw me, she just went back the next day, she adopted me. So I was just like, wow, that I was chosen from the beginning. Like when I was in the Tommy of my birth mom, and God has protected me. And even the 18, the 19 years, I don't know him, he wanted me. And he sees all these people that he has placed in the road on the way for me to see how good he is, and he's so patient. So, I mean, from my own story, and I've just learned that oh, he is so good. He is so good, and everything happened for a reason. And then I was wanted from the very beginning. God is good. I can't plan, I can't even make it up. Just the moment when my mom tells you, I was like, I can't even make this up. Like, it's like a

Embracing Personal Stories and Gratitude

Gloria 30:32

reality show, but it's true. I volunteer at the local printing center. Like, I just have so much respect for the women who decided to carry and put the kids for adoption. You I wanna one day, I don't have a desire to look for my birth mom yet. But like, if I ever came across her eventually, I just want to say thank you. Because that really you have given me a chance to live, to have an amazing family, to have my husband, the people. You know, when I first moved, I was just like, dude, I removed everything I know, unplug everything I know, my friendship, my family, my language, my food, and everything. And I moved here, but you know what? But God has blessed me more than I ever needed. The friendship, the work, the people, the church, everything. So, you know, I really can't complain. So whenever I ask like people saying, Oh, how are you today? I can't complain. You know, it's a really bad day. I can't complain. I'm here, right? I can't complain. There's so much if I decided if there's a day, only have 1% of goodness, I'm gonna hold out tight to that 1%, and the 99% can't wait.

Ivet 31:47

Is there a time when your faith in Jesus helps someone else who was thirsty for the truth of God?

Gloria 31:54

I mean, I wanna say yes, but I can't really pinpoint people. The reason is like I don't I always want to be reminded that uh it is not me brought people to Jesus, it's really the Lord bring them. And we're just I would say like a um he's the Jesus the shepherd, or I'm the sheepdogs. I just hurt the people that keep them in line, like the sheeps, like hey you're the ass, here, right here. Give them a bite in the leg and want to make sure them in in line, you know. So I call myself a sheepdogs at times. I want them to see that I truly have a joy through hardships. That one year we had on our Christmas card, uh, I put James one three and four on it. My husband would say, that is so depressing. Because like you you telling people during Christmas time to count all your trials as a joy, like at the end of the year. I said, but that's that's that's trying to tell you that every single thing in your life you can be joyful about. Like the loss, like, yeah, I really miss my dad. Like, yes, I lost a lot of people in my life, but I have learned a lot. And uh I have if I'd never experienced that, I wouldn't be able to comfort the people that uh went through the same thing. So that's that was a gift. That is a gift. So a lot of time trial brings joy and bring comfort to people. So I think if I wanna be an example to the people, like people will see the joy in me, even through hard time. I think that's really what I hope. Even my children be very frank with my children transparent, but I want my kids to know that mom, mom has joy through her because like the past two years through my health issues, I have to depend on my children a lot the first few months during my recovery. They have to take care of me, they have to take care of the groceries to pick up everything. They were like, I mean, my youngest was only seven at the time. But they see my struggle, but they also see I didn't give up on the Lord. So I want them to see that. Like, we can't have a hard day, but we know God is good and then we get comfort from Him.

Ivet 34:22

Gloria, is there a specific Bible verse or passage in the Bible that has been meaningful to your journey, or is it special to you in some way?

Gloria 34:32

Actually, Job is my favorite person in the Bible, but a lot of times it sounds like really patty, but like when I have a hard day, I was just like, it's nothing compared to Job. So, like, uh that gave me the courage to just say like, all right, quit complaining, let's keep going. It's all it's gonna be alright, you're gonna be rewarded. Maybe not a way you wanna be rewarded, but you will get rewarded at the end. And I have a verse that I hold tied to my heart, is uh Matthew 6.34. Do not worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow, already have enough worry of its own. Which I have been holding tied to that because live in the nowadays. I have three kids in school out in the world, and uh my husband goes to work. It's you can't predict anything, and even me is not guaranteed for tomorrow. Like in my surgery, everything, emergency, like that, like I can control it. But I can't live in fear, and I can't live in worries, and I know I know the Lord already write my story. I just need to find out, leave day by day to find out what's next. It's kind of interesting and scary at the same time, but I know he got me, and I'm looking forward to finding out the next chapter. So I just leave my worry to him. I worry a little bit. I'm a human being too, so I worry. But do I worry long enough to not sleeping? Probably not. Because these days I just really just Lord, just take care of that, and then I go to bed. Gloria, who's Jesus for you personally? I mean, common answer will be the savior of the f I think he just he's my he's my friend. The friend that cannot live without, the friend will pet on my shoulder when I need it. And the friend that uh even I am alone, you know, you ever heard there's a worship song? Uh it's like this is how I find my battle. Even uh I feel like uh I am in the dark being alone, but I am surrounded by your love. So I think that's how I feel. Like even I'm alone, like the peace I have is a comfort. So he is the friend that'll win everywhere you need.

Ivet 36:57

Is there anything else that you want to share about Jesus with our listeners, especially those who do not know Jesus yet?

Gloria 37:05

Hmm. Well, I think

Finding God in Everyday Life

Gloria 37:08

Jesus speaks to each person in their life differently at different times in different format, and sometimes you feel like you feel like you don't have time for him, but he's always there. For my personally speaking, when motherhood was so consuming, when the job is so consuming, you sometimes find excuses like I don't have time. You do. I remember the only time I have a peace and quiet talk to the Lord was on the toilet. Just because that's the only time that my children's all outside is not clinched on me at my attention. And that was just a season of my life. And then that was my quiet time was him. Then that's enough for him. And the Lord is always there for you when you needed him. It looked different from through different seasons. So, and I always say I'm a planner, like I like to plan things and look, color-coded everything, but I always have the thing in my back of my mind that I need to be flexible with his plan. So I just really hope people know that um I got you covered, let's not worry about things and kind of like just go with his plan, go with the flow and find out every day with me because I don't know tomorrow what I have. Would you pray for our listeners?

Closing Reflections and Prayer

Gloria 38:32

All right, God, I love you so much. It was such a privilege to be here to share the story. Uh, I pray that uh people will hear my heart behind uh this story. So even with the accent, maybe it was my mumblings, but knowing that my story is written from the very beginning, that I hope that will encourage comfort to the people who share the same experience. And Lord, I pray that uh you will just shine a light in people's lives just through the little piece of the story. And I'm so grateful. And um thank you for thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here and to grow the maturity uh daily. I pray that you just give us wisdom every day and leave our life to glorify you. We love you. Pray all this in your name. Amen.

Tasha 39:34

Thank you for joining us today at the Soaking Ground. For more testimonies, please like, share, and subscribe. You may contact us at at thesokingground.info at gmail.com.