ABOUT ME:

Hey! My name is Izzy and I want to share a story of how the Lord showed me that I am His daughter of value. This is my testimony of how the Lord came into my life & saved me

I came from an unsafe environment where my biological father was physically, sexually, and verbally abusive resulting in me being diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD.This played a vital part into my childhood. I couldn’t go to school, I (didn’t have enough to eat) was malnourished , & was very sheltered from the outside world.I oftentimes was isolated from making friends & relationships.i didn’t have what you would consider a normal childhood. Both biological parents were in and out of our house consistently. But mainly My idea of what a father should be was immensely distorted. All throughout my childhood, I often felt neglected, manipulated, and not valuable. This resulted in pleasing people. I was continuously pouring my heart out to others so that I could feel acknowledged. I had the urge to constantly take the position of what being a father would look like to those around me. This led me to always take care of others despite my own needs and to show them what it meant to be truly loved. I was always found in putting the needs of others in front of my own. My identity began to develop as a caretaker and without that, I didn't know who I was. Fast forwarding, I was adopted at the age of 10 into a Christian family. So until then, I didn’t know the Lord or have any type of relationship with Him. I turned to playing sports to the point it was unhealthy. I fell into trying to fit into worldly things by filling all my time by pleasing my coaches and teacher by performing the best I could in sports, school clubs, and academics. I was so lost in who I was. I desired in seeking to feel loved and valued without transaction. It wasn't until after high school graduation, that I learned what it truly meant to have an intimate relationship with the Lord & that’s where my true identity comes from. I found my identity in Christ by taking authority over my emotions and learning to say no to things that took more of me than it gave to those around me. As a result, I had a healthy relationship with myself and people. As I took authority over my emotions, this helped me to feel valued and respected. I soon became confident within myself. If we live out an identity based on how God sees us, we no longer feel the need to find our worth in our external circumstances. It frees us up to live confidently and firmly instead of changing who we are based on the opinions of others, how we view ourselves, or in worldly things that may define our significance. It gives us the opportunity to experience God’s unconditional love in a new and fresh way. With that it allows us to confidently and boldly share the Lord's love with others. It is certainly a battle as we live in a world that seeks to define us by its own standard, but it is worth the battle. The goal is to be secure in who you are, not who you need to be.