Katelyn Chua

Editor’s Note: God has a plan for everyone including you, a specific plan that he has already planned out, when things don’t go your way, it’s going God’s way; everything will happen according to God’s will.  

Hi, I’m Katelyn Chua and I’m 12 years old. Even though I choose to get baptized now, I’ve actually wanted to get baptized since I was 8. I didn’t do it then  because I was scared. When I was younger, I had a lot of stage-fright. The thought of sharing this testimony in front of many people made me nervous. As I grew older, I realized that when I am truly ready to get baptized, God would give me the strength and confidence I need. Once I realized that, I prayed to God, I told Him I wanted to get baptized and will wait for Him to tell me “it’s time”. 

As I reflect on my past, I noticed that God has been there for me my whole life. I grew up in this church. I’ve always believed in God. 

When I was really young I would always have nightmares and have scary things pictured in my mind, I obviously got scared super easily, this happened for a few years. Everyday I would just pray and pray and ask God to stop them from coming into my brain. I knew he heard me; I was just confused about why he wasn’t doing what I asked Him to do until I heard Jeremiah 29:11. The verse is: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse really spoke to me because God has a plan for me, a good one, everything will happen according to his will. Soon, I got busy with homework and life and I didn’t realize it at the time, but He did what I asked, just during the time He knew was right. 

There was another night where I thought I was going to die. I was just lying in bed and all of a sudden I was seized with the thought: “I won’t be able to make it to tomorrow”. I was positive that it was gonna happen. I was terrified; I have never felt anything so certain, I knew I was gonna leave the world that night. I quickly got up to grab my Bible and started reading from where I left off. I read for at least 45 minutes and then prayed. I asked Him to forgive me for the sins I’ve committed. After praying, I felt okay again, still a little traumatized but God provided me stillness. Whenever I would feel scared I would just talk to God and then after a while I would feel calm again. 

I can’t believe I’ve never realized but He has always been there for me, through the ups and downs. He was always supporting me. As I slowly accepted His grace into my life, others –as well as I– around me have noticed I changed, in a good way. Like the song “Because of Jesus”, I feel like I can sing “because of Jesus, I have been changed” without a doubt that it’s true. I’ve been giving my friends more smiles and spending more of my time with them. I was there for them and God gave me them for when I needed someone. 

I’ve lost some of my most important friends and it has been hard for me. I’ve been sad a lot and sometimes I would just wonder, “What is God’s plan?” or “Is God’s plan for me really good?” However, at times where I really started doubting my life and God, He led me into the arms of my friends. I never really noticed but God blessed me with so many great friends that were there for me when I was going through the mountain peaks and darkest valleys of life. They were always there, hanging out with me or just asking a simple “Are you okay?”

Now I feel like “I’m ready”. God has been faithful all of my life, supporting me, and holding me up when I was falling; I’m sure He will always do that for me because now I know, He truly cares and loves me. I admit I have sinned so many times, I get tempted to sin and still do sometimes even if I know what I’m doing is wrong. Even though there are more than a trillion reasons why I don’t deserve to be forgiven, God has forgiven and blessed me. 

Now I am sure. I’m ready and willing to give up my life for God. I’m ready for Him to use me for His plan, and I’m excited for others to see Jesus in me. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, anything can happen, but I know for a fact that God knows what he’s doing, and His plan is always good. I’ve learned that if God doesn’t answer your prayers it doesn’t mean he didn’t hear it, it just means it isn’t the right time yet, or it isn’t part of His plan for you. God has a plan for everyone including you, a specific plan that he has already planned out, when things don’t go your way, it’s going God’s way; everything will happen according to God’s will.  Someone once said, everyone is a sinner. The distinction is, sinners who accept Jesus Christ are sinners saved by grace. I know that I’m a sinner and nothing can change that, but I want to be a sinner saved by grace. I’m ready to die with Christ and then rise again with Him as a new person.