Day 17

Lora Johnstone | Re:Hope Paisley

For years I struggled with my sense of worth, my peace, and my connection with the Holy Spirit. Growing up in a Christian family, going to church all my life, giving my life to Jesus at 13 or 14, and getting baptised at 15—it all felt like something I was supposed to do. It was what I was taught, right?

Wrong. I was so wrong.

I plummeted. I wasn’t living the life I should have been. My sense of purpose faded. Every now and then, I’d show up at church just to “make an appearance,” but the truth is, I wasn’t living for Christ at all. It was a wishy-washy, watered-down version of faith.

Life brought a lot of pain: depression, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationships, even abusive ones. Then I had my children and tried to find meaning in that, but deep down, I had turned away from God. I blamed Him for everything I had gone through.

I was so unhappy with life. I felt discontent and overwhelmed after everything I’d been through—the past traumas, the aftermath of COVID, constant high anxiety, and depression. I was barely leaving the house, avoiding everything and everyone. I felt completely alone, and more and more worthless by the day.

But something in me started searching again. I was looking for a sign.

That’s when I saw that Re:Hope was coming to Paisley in July 2022. I thought, “This has to be the sign, right?” I’m just 10 minutes away. Could this be for the kids and me to be part of. So, I made the decision to reach out. Honestly, I didn’t expect a response. In my past experience of church they don’t often reach out. 

But I was wrong, again.

Within days, Buchan reached out and invited me to the very first pre-launch service. I tried but couldn’t quite make it to that first one because of my anxiety, though I’ll never forget what happened next. Buchan followed up again after that Sunday just to ‘check in’.  I explained why I hadn’t been able to leave the house, he didn’t just offer encouragement—he prayed for me, right there over the phone.

No one had ever done that for me before. No one had ever taken the time to pray over my anxiety, to speak truth and peace into my situation like that. In that moment I felt something shift. It was small—just a glimmer of peace—but it was real. It was the first time in a long time I felt seen and spiritually cared for.

Long story short, I made it to church the following Sunday, and I’ve been coming ever since, now part of the Re:Hope Paisley family.

Danny Harvey | Re:Hope Southside

For a couple of years, I’d been carrying bitterness, anger, and a deep heaviness that was seriously affecting my mental and emotional health. It all stemmed from a painful season in my life that left me feeling wounded, unseen, and stuck. I tried to push through, pray, and “be fine,” but the burden wouldn’t shift.

Then about a month ago, I reached the end of myself. I was overwhelmed and not coping. In that moment, I remembered Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.

So I did. I laid it all down—my anger, the injustice, the hurt—all at His feet. I let go of trying to carry it on my own. And within two days, something miraculous happened.

I woke up one morning, and it was like the weight had literally lifted. That constant heaviness was just…gone. The people who used to trigger deep frustration didn’t anymore. Conversations I used to dread came and went with peace. I felt free in a way I hadn’t in years. For the first time in ages, I was truly walking in the freedom that he had bought for me. 

This experience showed me the real power of surrender. When we finally give up control, when we hand over what we cannot fix, He steps in. He brings peace that truly surpasses all understanding.

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God cares about your mental and emotional well-being…he literally created both the mind and emotions.  If you are struggling with wounds that can’t be seen, know that God sees them and He wants to heal them.