God Was Gently Drawing Me Closer — Even Before I Knew Him
- Elisabeth H. Drew
- Dec 23, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Jan 8
Why Testimonies Matter
Christian testimonies reveal how God works patiently and faithfully in real lives. They remind us that faith often begins quietly, grows through questions and trials, and matures through surrender and trust. Testimonies are not about perfection or having all the answers, but about God’s grace meeting us where we are and leading us forward step by step.
When we share what God has done, our stories become encouragement for others who may be walking through uncertainty, loss, or spiritual searching.
Psalm 66:16 Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
In this article, titled God Was Gently Drawing Me Closer — Even Before I Knew Him, you will discover the testimony of Audrey Perron, shared in her own words—a journey of faith, loss, healing, and surrender, revealing how God was present through every season of her life.
Audrey Perron’s Testimony — A Personal Testimony of Faith
Seeds of Faith — Hearing About God Before Knowing Him
I grew up hearing about God. My grandfather and my mother often spoke about Him, but faith was not something that was truly practiced in our daily lives. God was present in conversation, but not yet at the center of our walk. Still, even without realizing it at the time, seeds of faith were being planted in my heart.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Looking back now, I see that God was quietly at work, planting truth in my heart long before I understood what it meant to truly know Him.
A Father’s Absence — And a Gift of Reconciliation
My childhood was also marked by the absence of my father. He was not very present while I was growing up, and that left a space in my heart I didn’t fully understand at the time. Years later, before he passed away, God gave us the gift of reconciliation. We reconnected, and during that time my father shared something that deeply impacted me and my sister: he told us that he had found God’s truth and had chosen to follow Him.
Even in loss, God used my father’s testimony to speak to my heart and draw me closer to Him.
Joel 2:25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.
Through reconciliation and loss, God showed me that He can bring healing and purpose even through broken relationships.
An Instant Connection — Love Rooted in Faith and New Life
Before coming to know God personally, my life was also marked by a meaningful relationship that God placed in my path. I met the man who would become my husband, a Christian whose faith immediately stood out to me. From the beginning, there was an instant connection—one that felt grounded, sincere, and guided by something deeper than ourselves.
In 2023, I became pregnant, and in May 2024, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy into the world. During that season, my heart began to change. Becoming a mother awakened a deep desire within me to grow closer to God and to raise my child in faith and truth. At the same time, my mom also felt drawn to seek God more intentionally, and together we began longing for a life centered on Him.
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
Through love, new life, and family, God was already preparing my heart to seek Him—not only for myself, but for the child I was called to raise in His ways.
From Knowing About God to Knowing Him Personally
As I grew older, I realized that knowing about God was not the same as knowing Him personally. Around that time, my mom came across an Instagram post from Life.Church. Something about it spoke deeply to her heart, and she shared it with us. Soon after, my sister, my mom, and I began attending together. Around that same time, I also added the YouVersion Bible App, where following daily Scripture became a gentle, meaningful part of my everyday life.
Through those services, I started hearing the Gospel in a clear and personal way—centered on a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.
God was gently drawing me from information about Him into a relationship with Him.
Questions, Doubts, and Learning to Rely on God
When I faced moments of doubt and questions about faith, Life.Church helped guide me through them with patience, biblical teaching, and truth. My questions were welcomed, and I found understanding, reassurance, and direction.
I reached a point where I could no longer rely on my own strength or understanding and recognized my deep need for God’s grace and guidance.
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
Through my questions, God taught me that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the decision to trust Him through it.
Loss and Grief — Trusting God Through Pain
My faith was tested deeply when I lost my second baby at three months pregnant. That season brought real pain and moments of doubt. I questioned, I cried out to God, and I struggled to understand why this had happened.
Yet even in that sorrow, God did not leave me. Over time, He gently reminded me that He is still good, still sovereign, and still near—even when I do not understand His plans.
Psalm 34:18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
In my grief, I learned that God’s presence does not depend on my understanding, but on His faithful love.
Understanding the Gospel — Grace, Not Perfection
Through reading the Bible and spending time in prayer, I came to truly understand the Gospel:
that Jesus Christ died for my sins out of love and grace—not because I deserved it, but because He chose to.
I learned that salvation is not earned through good works, but received through faith in Him.
Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
This truth freed me from striving for perfection and anchored my faith in Christ alone.
Living the Word — A Scripture That Shapes My Faith
One Bible passage that speaks deeply to my heart is James 1:19–22. This Scripture continues to teach me that following Christ is not about perfection, but about obedience, humility, and allowing God to transform my heart day by day.
James 1:19–22 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
This passage reminds me daily that faith is lived out through obedience and surrender, not flawless performance.
Baptism, Community, and Growing Together in Christ
Today, I am married and blessed with a child. My faith is now the foundation of my family and my life. In July of this year, I publicly declared my faith by being baptized, choosing to follow Jesus fully and openly.
After my baptism, I felt a strong desire to grow deeper in God’s Word and to walk in true Christian community.
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death,that just like Christ was raised from the dead, so we also might walk in newness of life.
Baptism marked not an ending, but the beginning of a deeper walk with Christ.
Marriage Before God — A Covenant, Not a Display
After being baptized on July 15, my desire to live fully committed to Christ continued to grow. In August, my husband and I chose to be married—not for tradition, attention, or celebration, but to honor God and commit our union before Him.
It was a small and intimate ceremony, shared only with my sister, my mom, and our son. There was no show, no spotlight—only a sincere desire to place our marriage under God’s authority and blessing, trusting Him to be the foundation of our family.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
That day was not about perfection or appearances, but about obedience, unity, and choosing to build our family with God at the center.
Walking Together — Encouragement and Shared Faith
That is when I began attending a life group and Bible study led by Mason Flagg. This group had a profound impact on my faith. Mason became family to me, and his encouragement and love for Scripture inspired me greatly.
Through his guidance and example, I felt called to start my own Bible study as well. Today, we continue to attend each other’s studies, supporting and encouraging one another in Christ.
Hebrews 10:24–25 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together.
God used community to strengthen my faith and remind me that we are not meant to walk this journey alone.
Giving With Gratitude — Worship Through Obedience
I also began giving to my church—not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. Giving became an act of worship and trust in God, a way to support the work He is doing and to live out my faith in obedience.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly, or under compulsion.
Through giving, I learned to trust God more deeply and honor Him with every part of my life.
Trusting God — Still Growing, Still Following
I know I still have much to learn and many ways to grow, but I trust God completely. Looking back, I can see His hand in every season of my life—through loss, healing, restoration, and new life.
My testimony is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who does.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it.
God continues to shape my heart, patiently leading me forward in faith.
God Is Faithful — My Hope Is in Christ
Jesus Christ is my Savior, my strength, and my hope. I choose daily to follow Him and to live a life that reflects His truth and love.
Psalm 28:7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped.
My life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness, and all glory belongs to Him alone.
Encouraging Others in Their Faith
Audrey’s testimony reminds us that God often works quietly, patiently drawing hearts closer to Him through both joy and sorrow. By sharing her journey, she offers encouragement to those who may be questioning, grieving, or learning to trust God in unfamiliar seasons. Her story reflects a faith shaped by grace, perseverance, and a growing dependence on God’s presence.
Through her experiences, we are reminded that God remains near, offering comfort and guidance even when the path forward feels uncertain.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Audrey’s testimony encourages others to:
Trust God when questions arise and answers are not immediate
Remain attentive to God’s presence in ordinary, everyday moments
Remember that spiritual growth is a journey of obedience and grace, not perfection
By sharing her story, Audrey becomes a living witness to God’s compassion, patience, and transforming work in a life surrendered to Him.
Last Thoughts about God Was Gently Drawing Me Closer — Even Before I Knew Him
Every testimony carries purpose. Whether marked by loss, healing, restoration, or quiet faithfulness, each story reflects the hand of God at work. Testimonies remind us not only of where God has brought us from, but also of His ability to meet others in their own seasons of searching and need.
When we share what God has done, we are not drawing attention to ourselves—we are pointing others to His faithfulness and enduring love.
Psalm 66:16 Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
If God has been at work in your life and you feel led to share your testimony, I would be honored to hear from you. Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to read today.
You are welcome to send your testimony by email to info@hopewithelisabeth.com
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.
May every testimony shared point back to Jesus Christ, and may God alone receive all the glory.
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