Lauran Parson’s shared the following testimony at her graduation from Empower. We thought it was powerful and wanted everyone to hear it!
August 2020 was the first time I had heard about Empower. I didn’t understand what the class was about, but with just moving, pandemic hitting, and homeschooling for the first time, I quickly declined. After my second decline there was unrest in me. I was working hard to be physically healthy, to provide for my family, but all that hard work left little to no room for my spiritual health. I decided to read my Bible, and it was while reading Proverbs I heard the repeated call to wisdom. As a mom, how could I hope to raise Christian children if I didn’t know the fundamentals of my own faith, my spiritual gifts, or my purpose? So Empower came up again, and I decided maybe it was time. If I didn’t commit and make the time happen, when would it ever happen? I was afraid of the financial cost, but I felt God reminding me of all the times He’s provided, and wasn’t learning about Him worth that price? God likes to ask me questions. I think He knows it helps me find the holes in my own logic. So I jumped in right before the semester began. It started off fast and kept me on my toes the whole time.
God has done amazing things. This time was harder than I could imagine. We struggled financially, my children’s health came into question, and my workload increased. BUT God…He showed up at every place of struggle and kept me. With financial struggles in our midst God asked me to trust Him with moving. We closed last week on a home that was more than I could have asked for. I felt peace, and His presence stayed close as I sat by my son’s bed on the DuPont cardiac floor and saw amazing healing happen for our son. I was able to reveal deep wounds to God, and He showed me He was there; I finally knew I was never alone. He was and is El Roi, the God who sees. He also taught me I can serve like Martha, but He wanted my heart like Mary’s more. I want to tell you of one specific miracle that took place in my life recently. While praying for my husband’s pain in the middle of the night, everything I learned about spiritual authority and God’s power came to mind. While we prayed in the quiet night, my husband’s back cracked with no movement and was healed. His pain he’d been suffering for years was gone. I don’t think I can explain the feeling of awe at our God’s power in that moment.
There are many more stories I could share, but I’d like to say thank you to the leaders of Empower for bringing the knowledge and path for me to follow and thank you even more Lord for your mercy, grace, and love. It is by you and for you I’ve come this far.
Philippians 4:19 tells us: “My God will meet all of our needs according to the riches of His Glory in Christ Jesus.”
May we continue to grow in our true identity as precious daughters of the most high King, may we walk in the fullness and richness that it comes only from our heavenly father. Thank you.
—Lauran Parsons
