“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart…” (Jeremiah 1:5)
There is something profoundly beautiful about this scripture. It has inspired me and filled my heart with joy. While God may not have set us apart like He did Jeremiah, He has chosen each of us for a purpose. As we are reminded in 1 Peter 2:9, we are chosen by God; we are His very own, called to represent Him to others. He has always seen us as valuable and precious. We are His treasure, dearly loved, and our worth comes from God, not from ourselves.
On January 19, 2025, I shared my testimony in Kanata before my brothers and sisters in Christ. About two months before I was invited to speak, I felt a strong prompt from this scripture and asked the Lord why it resonated so deeply with me. As the Holy Spirit revealed dates and significant periods from my life, I began to understand my purpose. God was not highlighting my past to make me feel guilty—He had already freed me from shame years ago. Instead, He wanted me to share my story so that someone, even one person, might be filled with hope and experience His lovingkindness and healing power for whatever is broken within them.
I began my testimony by stating that no matter how our lives begin, how we try to change our paths, or when we stray, we must remember that God already has a plan. Reflecting on these words, I sat in awe of God, thinking that before He formed me in my mother’s womb, He already knew my wanderings and still chose to love me. As the Holy Spirit guided me in writing my testimony, I realized I had wandered for 40 years. Yet, during that messy period, God continued to provide for, protect, and watch over me and my family, holding everything together. Just as He allowed Moses and the Israelites to wander, He permitted my journey to unfold until I found myself in a jail cell. God parted the waters for Moses and the Israelites, freeing them from their enemies; He breathed new life and freedom into me as He released me from my addiction and silenced the lies that filled my thoughts on that frightening day in June 2005. This is the short version of a beautiful story, and I give God all the glory.
Even ten years later, I didn’t fully understand what had occurred; I just knew something had changed within me—or rather, that someone had changed me. Then, in 2015, God led me to LifeCentre Kanata when I accepted an invitation to LifeStart. This story has so much more, but God knew exactly what and who I needed. During the early days of my journey with Jesus, I often asked Him why He had waited so long. One day, as I read Galatians 1:15, I received my answer: “When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace…” I realized then that God’s timing is perfect. It had unfolded when it pleased Him and only by His grace.
Toward the end of 2024, God began to stir in me a desire to look back and see how my life’s story unfolded. After being asked to share my testimony, I recognized that 2025 is particularly special for me; it includes two significant anniversaries with my Lord and Savior. This June marks 20 years since Jesus found me in that jail cell, and in August, I will celebrate 10 years since I publicly declared my faith in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior through water baptism. This is another reason Holy Spirit prompted me to share my testimony—to remind me of this wonderful celebratory year. Let us never forget to celebrate what God has accomplished in our lives.
God knows our wanderings, our sins, and our doubts. He knew all this before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs, yet He still chose to love us. His love is so profound that He sent His only Son to pay our debt. Words cannot express the depth of His great love. I know that His love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8), endures forever (Psalm 136), and that nothing can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).
In moments of fear or doubt about yourselves or your relationship with our Creator, remember that He always knew you before you were born and still chose to love you. God holds the pen and continues to write your story—a story of hope that reveals His immense love, grace, mercy, and patience with His wayward children.
Let’s Pray…
Thank You, God, for choosing us, loving us and setting us apart exclusively for You to do Your will. Thank You, Father, for Your love that can crumble and destroy the stones of our hearts; transform our minds from worldly lies and deception; break every chain of addictions, oppression, depression and confusion. Lead us to freedom by Your glorious Light. When we wander, help us remember and take delight in knowing that You always knew our shortcomings and still chose to love us. We surrender and come before You in awe and holy fear with hearts of great gratitude, giving You all glory and honour. Remind us, Holy Spirit, to entrust our family and loved ones to Your loving care. Thank You, Father…in Jesus’ precious name, we pray…. Amen
