My Faith Journey
Author: Barb Peterson
January 30, 2025
Did you happen to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? It’s a heartwarming family film based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 book. The story centers on the Herdmans, a group of siblings who are infamous for their bad behavior. Directed by Dallas Jenkins (The Chosen), the movie highlights themes of acceptance, redemption, and the true spirit of Christmas.
When I was in eighth grade, I played one of the Herdmans in the school play. My memories of that time prompted me to pull out my old eighth-grade yearbook and text a friend a picture of our Herdman clan from that play.
As I looked through that flimsy, old, worn yearbook from my Christian school, and read the goofy messages that eighth graders in 1984 wrote to each other, evidence of the Lord’s faithfulness to me at that time came into focus in a new way. I read messages not only from other students but also my teachers, who expressed great love and care for me.
You see, though I was born into a Christian family (and made a confession of faith as a 4- or 5-year-old), divorce became a reality for us. I won’t go into details, but as one might imagine, these things are not usually as simple as they appear on the surface. Despite the unsettledness of what was going on at home, the Lord was very gracious to my sisters and me by providing a means by which we could remain at the Christian school through the tumultuous time.
No doubt many faculty and staff at the school were praying for us. The stability, consistency, and kindness of that place and the teachers who cared for us, as well as the regular biblical teaching, provided an environment in which my faith continued to flourish, despite what was happening at home.
Over time, my faith has continued to grow as God’s mercy and grace have been poured out on me repeatedly. Now, as I face the many trials that come with adulthood, God’s faithfulness continues to show up again and again. Some days are very challenging. But, whatever the day may hold, my Shepherd has not let go of my hand. His faithfulness (which I honestly didn’t even recognize back in the 1980s) through the years has built in me a firm foundation on which I stand when today’s trials have the potential to overwhelm me. For this, I am so grateful.
Perhaps you can relate to my story. And maybe your situation turned out differently than mine. The Lord works uniquely in each of our lives, whatever your story may be. But this I know for sure—as our faithful Shepherd leads us through the valley of the dark shadows, He will never let go of the hands of those who follow Him.
Barb Peterson is Director of Children’s Ministries at New Covenant Church.
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