Do You Dare?

“I have screwed up big time. If you can do anything with my life, please do.”

That was the prayer I whispered in 1989. I was seventeen. Pregnant. Depressed. Alone. I had dropped out of school. My friends were off enjoying their senior year while I spent my days hiding under the covers, certain I had ruined my life forever.

But even then, even in the middle of my worst mess, I dared to hope. I dared to believe that what my Sunday School teacher had told me was still true: Jesus loved me.

I dared to trust that God could take my mess and make something meaningful out of it. So I prayed—not with fancy words, but with raw honesty. I turned to God with my past, my pain, my present, and dared to trust Him with my future.

But I didn’t stop there.

Time to Make a Change

I knew I had to change the path I was walking. I started reading my Bible. I turned off the TV shows that glorified the things that broke me. I filled my life with worship music and surrounded myself with people who genuinely loved Jesus. I didn’t become perfect overnight—far from it—but each step I took brought me closer to who God was calling me to be.

I still made mistakes. I still struggled. But God didn’t give up on me, and I didn’t give up on Him.

And He has done more than I ever imagined.

5 Ways You Can Dare to Trust God with Your Life

1. Pray Honestly – God doesn’t need perfect prayers. Just start with, “Help me, Lord.” (Romans 10:13)
2. Open His Word Daily – Let God speak life and truth into your broken places. (Psalm 119:105)
3. Walk Away from What Pulls You Down – Whether it’s music, shows, or certain friendships, protect your heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
4. Surround Yourself with Believers – Find a church, small group, or just one friend who will walk this journey with you. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
5. Share What God is Doing – Even if you’re still in the middle of it, your story matters. (Revelation 12:11)

Friend, God doesn’t expect perfection. He simply wants your heart. He wants your surrender. If He can take my broken pieces and write a story of hope and purpose, He can do the same for you.

Additional Resources

Need a place to start?

I invite you to read my book Walk It Out, where I share the radical results of living God’s Word one step at a time. Your transformation doesn’t start with perfection—it starts with obedience.

And for young women ready to seek God’s best, don’t miss Before You Meet Your Future Husband and Praying For Your Future Husband—books I co-wrote with Robin Jones Gunn. They’re perfect for teen girls or young women who want to invite God into their journey.