My New Journey with you by Katie Lovett

7.13.25

Stetson Memorial UMC 

 Good morning, Stetson Memorial Church family. If you had told me just a few months ago that I'd be standing here, actively participating in church, perhaps even joining in church karaoke, I might not have believed you! For years, I would have found every excuse not to attend.

I always felt a quiet tugging at my heart, a sense that there was something more, but I constantly ignored it. Sometimes it was because I didn't feel like I fit in, or I was simply embarrassed to admit how I truly felt. But today, with a humble heart, I share that I am genuinely embracing this journey.

After some significant challenges in my life, God, in His grace, led me to find peace where I needed it most. I now feel a deep peace I longed for, the profound love of forgiveness I desperately needed, and for that, my heart is beyond thankful.

I remember the profound love and bond I felt when I became a mother – a love unlike any other.

I was raised in a Christian home, attending church every Sunday, Christian school, and spending Saturdays with Christian friends. For a long time, I believed this inherited faith was my faith. I was the "good girl," staying in my lane, being nice, and not questioning anything. I even pretended to have the same spiritual encounters everyone else seemed to have.

But after I had my children, around age 20, I truly began to question. Breaking away from that "good girl" habit was hard, and I often felt guilty for simply asking questions. I didn’t hate the church I grew up in; I even liked seeing my best friend there. But I started to wonder: if God's love is truly central, why did I hear so many messages that felt filled with judgment about certain choices or ways of life? I wrestled with the idea of judging others when God is the ultimate judge.

Through these very challenging experiences, God truly helped me find my own way to faith. I came to believe not because I was told to, but because I chose to, for myself.

My honest truth is this: I believe if Jesus had been here on earth during my darkest times, He would have held my hand through it. The same Jesus who embraced lepers and those ostracized by society – those who needed love, whom He chose to love despite human judgment. He would have stayed by my side. He would love me through it.

I'm certainly not perfect. I never will claim to be. I know my faith and choices may be questioned by some, and honestly, that still scares me a little. But what truly scares me more is the thought of others feeling unforgivable, as I once did.

God held me close through my difficulties and gave me peace. We, as God's people—Christians, parents, friends, family, pastors—we need to remember that Jesus loved each and every one of us, in all times and places, especially during our darkest moments. If it wasn't for the dark times I went through, I wouldn't have this deep, personal connection with God now. I wouldn't have felt this peace and love if He hadn't been so close.

I've found joy in sharing my story, hoping it brings a message of hope and forgiveness to others who have walked difficult paths.

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There's a poem that beautifully captures how God sometimes answers our prayers, not always as we expect, but always for our growth. It goes like this:

I asked God to grant me patience, And God said, “No.” He said patience is a by-product of tribulation; It isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, And God said, “No.” He said “I give blessings; Happiness is up to you.”

I asked God to spare me pain, And God said, “No.” He said, “Suffering draws you apart from Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow, And God said, “No.” He said I must grow on my own, But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me, And God said, “Yes.” He gave me His only Son, who died for me. And I will be in heaven someday.

I asked God to help me love others As much as He loves me, And God said, “Ah, finally, you have the idea.”

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Beloved my church family, I cannot wait for this new journey – my journey – of deepening my relationship with God and moving forward wherever He leads. I want to be part of the change in our community! I want to be an example for our children, our teens, and our adults. I want to help fill this church with those who were once ashamed to walk through the doors, like I was, but who now know they don't need to be. Most of all, I pray that God continues to fill my heart and life. And I cannot wait to push further into this journey, together, with all of you.