'Walk by faith not by sight'

Albion, St Thomas:

NINETEENTH CENTURY Christian hymnist Charles Williams Fry penned these words to one of his most popular songs to date: "I have found a friend in Jesus, He's everything to me. He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul..."

To 24-year-old Shanice Duffus, this could not be any closer to the truth, describing her connection with Christ as the sweetest of all friendships.

According to Duffus, who has been a born-again Christian for four months, although she had spent a great deal of her life away from church, she still had not fully turned her back on God.

"I was a party girl with no care in the world, but even though I was a party girl, I always stayed in contact with my God. I don't normally tell people this, but ever since I was a child, I'm always talking to God in my mind. Growing up, I was a lonely child and Jesus was my only friend. I would talk to God about even the simplest things. When I'm walking on the road, I'm always talking to Him," she related to Family and Religion.

But her time spent pondering the two opinions had finally expired when Duffus encountered, what she says was the motivational power of the Holy Spirit in a dream one night; an experience she claims still leaves her in awe.

Duffus describes the vision as an ey-opening one and she had immediately sought a second opinion to help her understand its meaning. According to her, God was showing her that it was high time she forsook the temporary pleasures of the world and sought after His eternal kingdom.

She credits this as the turning point in her life and decided that ignoring her calling was no longer an option. So she immediately returned to church, finalised her baptism date, and underwent the ceremony a month later.

Determined, Devoted

Now, she says, she is determined to remain fully devoted to her faith as no other decision has ever been so fulfilling.

"All my prayers are being answered one by one. I don't know what broke is anymore. It's just blessings upon blessings. I'm now working with the Government. Before, I was battling in call centres ... underpaid and overworked. My God is awesome and His promises are sure. He will take care of you; just trust in Him and have faith. The Scriptures say 'walk by faith, not by sight'. To God be the glory! Old things are passed away and all things have become new," she said with a bright smile on her face.

Content with her Christian journey so far, Duffus says that she does not regret her choice to walk with Christ and even though obstacles do find their way in her path, He continues to guide and protect her along the way.

She encourages others to take her experience as a testament that God is alive and is still overseeing the saving and restoration business.

familyandreligion@gleanerjm.com