allow me to introduce myself part 2

This is part two of a series that begins right here.

Now that I stand removed by 6 or so years, God is good. He took a ragamuffin, conceited and arrogant, and through my poor choices and disobedience, still made everything work together for the good. Hindsight, that time period, thus far, has been the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s interesting, though, the very hardest thing in my life has been the very thing that made me who I am. Would I do things differently if I had the chance? Absolutely. But I am good with where God has placed me. Yes. Did I make the wrong choices? Absolutely. Do I have regrets? Yes. Do I believe that God’s grace is sufficient? Yes – with everything I am – I believe it.

As life began to move forward, after the Divorce, I really felt like I should wear a sign that said I was divorced. I felt like the proper way to introduce myself was “Hi, I’m Josh – I’m divorced.” I’ve tried to pinpoint what helped me move past that being who I was to being “Hi, I’m Josh – I’m inadequate – But Christ Jesus who lives within me is more than adequate – He’s perfect and righteous!” I think there was several components that helped lead me there. They are as follows:

1) I truly fell in love with Jesus. I understood why I needed him, and through brokenness, I clung to Him. He was not only my savior, by being the atonement for my sin, He was my savior by, daily, being my very best friend.

2) God continued to work in and through me even though I was a mess. God used my story to restore people to Himself. Our church began to notice what God was doing and used our student ministry as a rallying point. Our staff and deacons affirmed what God was doing in me and through me. They pursued ordaining me and licensing me as a pastor and minister of the Gospel. They examined me. They discussed and researched my life – including my Divorce – and they saw me as someone that God had set apart. I believe that with everything that I am. God has called me to pursue people, pastor people, and lead people from where they are to where God wants them to be. It’s incredible! God wants me to be a part of growing His Kingdom.

3) I met, Julie, my wife. I met her in the strangest of circumstances and had no intentions, in the beginning, of pursuing a relationship with her. I introduced myself to her by saying “I’m Josh, I’m divorced.” She responded by saying “Who cares?” She’s incredible. God designed her to be in relationship with me, and he designed me to be in relationship with her.