How My Faith Saved My Life (Without Jesus, I’d be Dead)

My story about learning to trust and delegate which added years to my life.

When I think about what a mess my life would be if I hadn’t renewed my relationship with Christ, I’m overwhelmed. God’s redemptive grace knows no bounds. It doesn’t matter how big of a mess you’ve made of your life; He will give you back everything you’ve lost, times ten.

Isaiah said it well in chapter 61, verse 10 - Let me tell you how happy God has made me! For He has clothed me with the garment of salvation and draped about me the robe of righteousness.

When contemplating my wonderful life, I am overcome with gratitude. If you still need to read my memoir, I’ll give you the Readers Digest version of the mess that became my message.

I knew my husband was an alcoholic, and I bought a bar. What sounds like a foolish decision turned into a blessing.

It had been my dream since I managed a bar at the tender age of nineteen to have my own place. I got into the business as a cocktail waitress at seventeen. Some people will call it blasphemous, but I was gifted to work in the bar business. God had a plan for me from the beginning. I’ve always been a people person, and my multitasking ability made me a great candidate for bartending. It made me an even better bar owner.

As a single mother at seventeen, I went to work cocktailing at a golf course on the weekends in San Jose, California. I was blessed with some great caretakers for my son Allen. My foster father’s sisters were like family; they lived three blocks from me and loved Allen as if he were their own.

I worked twelve — to fourteen-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays and had all the weekdays to spend with my new baby. It feels like a lifetime ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been over forty-five years.

The bar and food industry was great for a young working mother who wanted to make decent money to support her son. I was in the bar business for more than two-thirds of my working life.

Looking in the mirror, I don’t see the woman who labored so hard to keep it together for so long. I see a child of God well preserved by His grace. I can’t tell you how often someone who hasn’t seen me in years says, “You haven’t changed a bit.”

I use many creams and lotions to combat the effects of time, but I believe God made the difference. If I hadn’t turned my life over to Him more than 22 years ago, I’m sure I’d look like an old hag by now. The stress would have taken its toll.

I handled everything alone for over twenty years at Johnny’s Bar & Grill. I finally learned to delegate and enlist help during my last two years of ownership. I hired a manager to assist me and take care of things for me while I was gone. I kicked myself for not doing it long before I did. However, I trust God’s timing.

When I was where I needed to be financially, mentally, and spiritually, I was ready to embrace help. As I prepared for the 70th Anniversary Hollister Independence Rally with the help of my manager, I was blown away by the fact that I did it alone for so many years.

To all of you type-A control freaks who are killing yourselves working too hard because you don’t want to enlist help, I say, “Knock it off!” Believe me, you need to delegate. You need to trust others to help you. Even if everything doesn’t get done the way you would, it will get done.

Besides, who says your way is always the best?

That is one of the mindsets that God really had to work with me on. No matter the task’s size, I knew the best way to get-er-done. Do I have any sisters or brothers out there? Are you exhausted from trying to run the world? Take it from me; you won’t do a perfect job anyway.

God didn’t put us in charge of the world. That’s His job. I have so much peace now that I prayerfully approach everything. If you trust God and talk with Him about your decisions, you need to believe He’s got your back. Saying that you have faith in God for all your needs but then worrying and fretting over everything defies the definition of faith.

The definition of faith is #1 — belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. #2 — theological virtue, defined as a secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God’s will.

So, let me ask you? Are you leaning on, trusting in, and relying on God? Do you have real faith in God? Are you capable of casting your cares on Him? Here are some great scriptures to help in the faith department.

Psalm 55:22- Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.

1 Peter 5:7- Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.

Isaiah 41:10- Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 11:28- Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I hope sharing some of my story will inspire you to stretch your faith. We are living in scary and uncertain times. Without my faith in Christ, I would have lost my mind.