#221 Kirsti Armenta: God Was Never Distant, I Just Couldn't See Him

Stephanie shares her powerful journey from seeking love and validation in relationships to finding her true identity and freedom in Christ.• Growing up in a Christian home with loving parents who demonstrated real faith daily• Developing a destructive relationship framework in eighth grade after being cheated on• Believing the lie that physical intimacy was required currency to gain and maintain love• Meeting and marrying Taylor, but bringing unrealistic expectations into marriage• Placing her husband on "the throne of her heart" instead of God• Seeking affirmation outside marriage when feeling emotionally disconnected• Experiencing the devastating consequences of an affair• Finding transformation through understanding her true identity in Christ• Learning that unconditional love comes first from God, not other people• Walking in freedom and parenting from a foundation of complete acceptance• No longer needing external validation to feel worthy and valued• Sharing her story to help others recognize the lies that keep them in bondageIf you're struggling with finding your worth in relationships or battling guilt and shame from past mistakes, remember that your identity is not defined by what you've done but by who God says you are: loved, righteous, complete, and free in Christ.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Nancy Dodson shares her transformative journey from a legalistic faith upbringing to discovering God's true nature through devastating grief after her son's suicide. She vulnerably explores how trauma reshaped her understanding of God and why churches often fail those experiencing profound loss.• Growing up in a performance-based religious environment where salvation depended on a five-step process• Experiencing abuse, divorce, and church trauma while maintaining a facade of spiritual stability• Losing her 17-year-old son Tyler to suicide in 2019, creating a clear "before and after" line in her life• Finding the freedom to question, rage, and wrestle with God without fear of disappointing Him• Discovering that many Christians are uncomfortable with raw grief and unanswerable questions• Realizing she wasn't wrestling with God but with what she'd been taught God was• Embracing the mystery of faith instead of needing formulas and explanations for everything• Learning that churches often lack the capacity to properly support those experiencing traumatic grief• Finding comfort in knowing she'll be reunited with Tyler and all pain will be healedIf you're wrestling with faith questions or experiencing grief, remember that God can handle your raw emotions and authentic doubts. As Nancy says, "Don't let go," because even when you can't feel God's presence, He's walking alongside you.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Kirsti shares her powerful journey from viewing God as distant to discovering His intimate love and presence within her. Her transformation reveals how understanding our identity in Christ brings freedom from both our own sins and the sins committed against us.• Growing up with divorced parents in an unconventional household filled with exotic animals• Feeling different from peers as the only Adventist in town• Experiencing distant father figures that shaped her perception of God• Losing her father suddenly during her freshman year of college• Tragically losing her sister to suicide while in college• Struggling in personal relationships due to seeking approval and worth• Finding healing through intentional forgiveness toward her stepfather• Discovering that Christ actually lives within believers• Learning that God's love isn't earned through performance• Experiencing transformation in parenting, relationships, and spiritual life• Reading Scripture with new eyes and understanding• Moving from religious obligation to genuine desire for GodIf you want to experience this freedom too, join our Bible studies at lovereality.org where you can learn about your identity in Christ and discover how His love transforms everything.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Reneze shares her miraculous birth story and spiritual journey from childhood struggles with rage to finding her purpose through God's transformative love.• Born in Trinidad when doctors said her mother's fibroids made pregnancy impossible• Grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn where Sabbath observance was part of the community• Played with "guardian angels" as a child when feeling alone and isolated• Experienced healing from rage when a teacher responded with compassion rather than punishment• Found strength in Scripture, particularly Matthew 7:7 and Matthew 18:6• Struggled with depression during college despite previous academic success• Discovered her calling in counseling after teaching English in South Korea• Faced health challenges similar to her mother's fibroids• Navigated racial tensions during the pandemic that deepened her understanding of God's work• Found community with Love Reality, reinforcing her belief in transformation through Jesus"God really loves you, really cares. He's never left you or forsaken you and even though it's hard to be steadfast in your beliefs in Him, keep holding on. It gets better. God will answer those prayers. It may not be the next day, but God is working. He's never stopped working."💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Richard Young and friends gather in sunny Southern California for another Bible Verse Draft, tackling "Requirements for Salvation" by selecting verses that make the strongest case for what salvation requires.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

George shares his powerful journey from addiction to grace, demonstrating how the gospel's true message breaks cycles of sin and religious performance when properly understood.• George was a 24-year-old alcoholic and porn addict when he first encountered God in 2007• Initial freedom through salvation gave way to legalistic Christianity that created deeper bondage• Five years of religious performance led to suicidal thoughts despite being heavily involved in church• The turning point came when God spoke to him during a suicide attempt in his garage• Understanding his value and identity in Christ broke the cycle of guilt and condemnation• Reading Matthew 6 with fresh eyes revealed how God saw his worth beyond his performance• Freedom came not through fighting temptation harder but through embracing his true identity• Religious legalism creates a mindset that makes freedom impossible by focusing on sin management• True transformation occurs when believers see themselves as already free rather than constantly fighting sin💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Jonathan Phillips shares his remarkable journey from a legalistic religious upbringing to finding freedom through the true gospel, including the pivotal moment when he had to defend himself with deadly force and how God ultimately redeemed his darkest days.• Raised in conservative Seventh-day Adventism where God was presented as judgmental and angry• Attended strict religious academies that reinforced his growing discomfort with organized religion• Left faith behind as a young adult after feeling condemned for being unable to keep religious rules• Worked as a corrections officer for 13 years while battling personal struggles with alcohol• Experienced a life-changing trauma when forced to use deadly force in self-defense in April 2013• Struggled with grief, shame and alcohol addiction in the aftermath of the traumatic event• Found true freedom when his father helped him understand God's unconditional love in 2024• Discovered the transformative power of belief and how it changes one's entire experience• Now lives in a running conversation with God rather than under religious obligation• Celebrates April as a time of redemption rather than trauma, testifying to God's healing powerIf you've been hurt by religion or believe God is angry and judgmental, Jonathan's story shows that God is so much better than many of us have been taught. There is no shame or condemnation in Christ—only love.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Jonathan shares his transformative journey from growing up in a rigid religious environment to discovering true freedom and identity in Christ's finished work.• Grew up in a strict Adventist home focused on doctrine and religious law• Struggled with pornography addiction from a young age• Repeatedly tried and failed to break free using willpower and accountability• Received discouraging messages that addiction would be a lifelong battle• Experienced a breakthrough when he learned to see himself as God sees him• Had a "dolly zoom moment" when he realized his identity is not in his mistakes• Found freedom by understanding Romans 6 and his death to sin in Christ• Now shares this message with others through  social mediaIf you're struggling with addiction or shame, remember that God has removed every obstacle between you and freedom. Your identity isn't determined by your struggles but by Christ's finished work.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Frank Paine shares his journey from a devastating pornography addiction and legalism to finding freedom through understanding his identity in Christ. After years of smashing laptops, crying in closets, and feeling condemned, Frank discovered that true freedom comes not from trying harder but from embracing who God says he is.• Grew up with minimal religious background but felt drawn to God from childhood• Struggled with pornography addiction for over a decade• Experienced crushing shame and believed God was punishing him for his failures• Tried various solutions including Celebrate Recovery, Pentecostal and Adventist churches• Battled legalism that made him believe his salvation depended on his behavior• Discovered Love Reality Bible Studies in 2022, which transformed his understanding• Learned that his identity is rooted in Christ, not in his behavior• Found freedom by believing what God says about him rather than identifying with his sin• Began working with a life coach who helped him apply gospel truth to daily living• Now ministers to others struggling with similar issuesIf you're trapped in cycles of shame and addiction, stop identifying with what you're doing and start identifying with what God's Word says about you in spite of what you're doing. The freedom you seek comes from believing the truth about your identity in Christ.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Brie shares her extraordinary journey from the brink of suicide through years of New Age spirituality to finding authentic freedom in Christ. Her raw testimony reveals the deceptive nature of alternative spiritual practices while highlighting the transformative power of encountering Jesus.• Growing up without faith and finding identity in partying, drugs, and promiscuity• Planning suicide at 17 before experiencing an unexpected spiritual intervention• Pursuing metaphysical teachings that convinced her she was "god"• Living in a California commune with people who believed they weren't from Earth• Working on "Murder Mountain" while unaware of the dangers around her• Building a 20,000-follower Instagram platform offering tarot readings and psychic services• Finding Jesus after being arrested and receiving a Bible in jail• Learning to relinquish New Age practices despite financial dependence on them• Breaking free from pornography addiction through understanding her identity as God's daughter• Meeting her husband Victor and witnessing his dramatic conversion• Discovering the truth about Romans 7 and freedom from sinIf you've been blessed by this testimony, consider partnering with us to help share more stories of transformation. Go to lovereality.org/give and join our mission to preach the gospel.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.