my name is Eli Yoda and I was born and raised in the heart of an Amish community in Pennsylvania my life was one of Simplicity no electricity no cars no distractions from the out part of our lives from how we dressed to how we worshiped it was all I had ever known and I I believed that obedience to these Traditions was the key to salvation but deep down there were questions I didn't dare ask I followed every rule yet I often wondered if it was enough was God pleased with me or was I just going
through the motions my prayers sometimes felt Hollow and I feared that my faith wasn't as strong as it should be I buried these doubts telling myself that questioning was dangerous and trusting the community's teachings was my only path everything changed on a cold winter morning I was driving the horse drawn buggy home from town when a truck came speeding around a blind curve I didn't even have time to cry out before it hit me head on in an instant my world went black little did I know my journey was just beginning the moment the truck
hit my buggy time seemed to stand still there was a deafening crash and then silence I expected pain but instead I felt nothing when I opened my eyes I wasn't in my buggy or on the road I was somewhere else entirely it was dark not just the absence of light but a suffocating darkness that pressed against me from every side the air was heavy and a cold dread seeped into my soul I tried to move but it felt as though the ground wasn't solid there was no sense of direction no up or down just an
endless void I called out but my voice was swallowed by The Emptiness confusion gave way to fear where was I was this death I had always believed that those who lived a good obedient life would go to heaven hadn't I followed the ordinal hadn't I done everything my community required why wasn't I in the presence of God as I stood there scenes from my life began to play out before me not like Memories but as if I was watching them from a distance I saw myself working the fields Sitting In Worship services helping my family
on the surface it all looked good faithful obedient and disciplined but then the scenes shifted I saw moments I'd long buried moments of doubt and fear times when I questioned if the rules were enough if God truly knew me or if I was just going through the motions to please others and then I saw something that shook me to my core I saw the Ripple effects of my choices not just the good but the harm I had caused my pride in following the rules had made me judgmental of others my rigid adherence to tradition had
hurt people I cared about people who struggled with the same doubts I did but were too afraid to speak up I had looked down on them thinking myself better because I followed the ording so perfectly but now I saw the truth my faith had been shallow focused on appearances and rules not on a real relationship with God the weight of regret crushed me the darkness around me seemed to grow thicker heavier as if it was feeding on my guilt I felt utterly alone as though I was being swallowed by the very emptiness I had feared
for the first time in my life I realized that I had relied on my own efforts my own righteousness instead of truly knowing god I fell to my knees trembling and cried out Jesus if you are real help me please don't leave me here my voice echoed into the void and for a moment there was only silence but then something happened that I will never forget a faint light appeared in the distance it was small like a single candle in a vast dark room but it grew brighter and brighter the darkness recoiled from it shrinking
back as the light Advanced toward me as it grew closer I felt something I hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity hope the light surrounded me warm and powerful and I felt the suffocating weight of the darkness lift I could breathe again the overwhelming fear and regret that had gripped me began to melt away replaced by a sense of peace that was unlike anything I'd ever known and then I saw him Jesus stood before me radiant and filled with a love so pure that it brought tears to my eyes his presence was overwhelming not
in a way that inspired fear but in a way that made me feel fully known and fully loved his eyes met mine and I felt as though he could see every corner of my soul the good the bad the doubts and the pride yet there was no condemnation in his gaze only compassion Eli he said his voice both gentle and firm why have you relied on the works of your hands and the traditions of men instead of trusting in my grace I wanted to speak to defend myself but the words wouldn't come deep down I
knew he was right I had spent my entire life striving to follow rules believing they would save me but I had never truly understood what it meant to know him I'm sorry I whispered tears streaming down my face I didn't know I thought I was doing what you wanted Jesus knelt beside me placing his hand on my shoulder Eli I have been with you all along waiting for you to turn to me the rules cannot save you but my love can my grace is enough in that moment the light surrounding him seemed to grow even
brighter and I felt a warmth wash over me healing wounds I didn't even know I had I realized then that it wasn't about how well I followed the rules or how hard I worked it was about accepting his love and grace a gift freely given and undeserved as I knelt in his presence I knew that my life was about to change Forever The Darkness was gone and for the first time I felt free Jesus extended ended his hand to me and as I took it I felt a peace that I knew would never leave me
the journey wasn't over but I was no longer afraid I had found the truth and it had Set Me Free as I stood in the radiant light of Jesus the overwhelming sense of love and peace filled every part of me I felt unworthy to be in his presence yet his gaze assured me that I belonged here not because of anything I had done but because of who he was I couldn't speak overcome by the weight of his Holiness and the depth of his love Eli he said his voice soft but filled with authority you have
lived your life with sincerity seeking to honor God but you have been burdened by a yoke I never intended for you to carry the words pierced through me I wanted to object to say I had done my best that I had followed the rules of the ording as Faithfully as I could but deep down I knew he was right I had lived with a constant sense of strength driving always afraid I wasn't good enough always wondering if I had done enough to earn God's approval come Jesus said gesturing toward the light that surrounded us suddenly
scenes from my life began to unfold it was as if I was standing outside of time watching my own story play out before me at first I saw the good the moments of hard work devotion and faithfulness I saw the countless hours spent in the fields the prayers offered in the quiet of the night the sacrifices made to live a simple life but then the scenes shifted I saw moments where my devotion had turned into Pride where my obedience to the rules had made me look down on others I saw the times I had judged
my own brothers and sisters in the community believing their struggles were a sign of weakness while my adherence to the ording made me righteous I had been so focused on doing what was right that I had forgot Forten the heart of why we were supposed to live simply in the first place to draw closer to God tears streamed down my face as I watched the Ripple effects of my actions I saw how my pride had hurt others how my judgment had pushed people away from me and worse from God there were moments I had dismissed
as minor but now I could see their full weight a careless word here a refusal to show Grace there they had all added up leaving wounds I hadn't even realized I had caused you believed that the rules were enough Jesus said gently but the rules were never meant to save you they were meant to point you to me I felt my knees overcome with regret I thought I was doing the right thing I whispered I thought that if I followed the ording I would be pleasing to God Jesus knelt beside me his presence overwhelming yet
comforting Eli you cannot earn what has already been given my grace is a gift not a reward you followed the rules but you never let yourself fully know me and knowing me is what truly matters as he spoke another scene unfolded this time it wasn't about my past it was about what could be I saw myself living with a freedom I had never known I was still working hard still living simply but there was a joy and peace that hadn't been there before instead of striving to earn God's love I was living from a place
of already being loved I saw myself sharing this newfound truth with others not in judgment but in love helping them see that Grace was the foundation of true Faith these are the plans I have for you Jesus said his voice filled with hope plans to prosper you to give you a future and a hope but you must choose to walk in them I looked at him my heart heavy with the realization of how much I had missed how I asked how can I walk in this Freedom when I've spent my whole life trying to earn
it by trusting in me he replied simply let go of the burden you've carried let go of the fear that you're not enough my grace is sufficient for you Eli my power is made perfect in weakness the light around us grew brighter and for the first time I felt the chains I had carried for so long Begin to Fall Away they weren't physical chains but the chains of fear pride and striving that had bound my soul I felt lighter Freer than I had ever imagined possible there is no condemnation for those who are in me
Jesus said his voice resonating with authority your sins have been forgiven your mistakes have been washed clean you are not defined by the rules you followed or the mistakes you made you are defined by my love for you I wept as his words washed over me filling me with with a piece that I knew would never leave I realized then that my life wasn't about checking boxes or following rules it was about knowing him walking with him and sharing his love with others you have been given much Eli Jesus said standing and extending his hand
to me now go and share what you have seen help others see the truth not the weight of religion but the freedom of Grace I took his hand and as he lifted me to my feet I felt a strength I had never known the light around us seemed to pulse with life and I knew that this moment had changed everything the rules that had once felt like a prison were no longer chains they were simply tools tools that I could now use to point others to The God Who had saved me go Eli Jesus said
his voice filled with love and authority and remember I am with you always the vision began to fade but the peace and purpose I felt remained I knew I was being sent back to the world I had left but I wasn't afraid I had met the truth and my life would never be the same as the light around me pulsed with warmth and life Jesus stood before me his expression filled with love and purpose I felt like a child standing before a loving father fully known yet fully accepted the weight of my life my failures
and my misplaced efforts seemed to dissolve in his presence I knew that whatever ever came next it would be different I would be different Eli he began his voice steady and clear I am giving you a second chance you have seen the truth and now you must live it the life you return to will not be the same but you are not the same either what you have been shown is not for you alone it is for those I am calling you to reach his words both comforted and overwhelmed me the thought of going back
felt daunting but I knew I couldn't remain in this place not yet there was a purpose waiting for me one far greater than I could understand you have lived a life of obedience to the rules Jesus continued but now I am calling you to live a life of obedience to me rules have their place but they were never meant to replace a relationship with me many in your community are trapped believing that their worth is tied to their works just as you did I am sending you back to show them the truth as he spoke
scenes unfolded before me not of my past but of what could be I saw myself standing before members of my community sharing my story at first they looked at me with skepticism even hostility but as I spoke some began to soften their eyes filling with tears as they recognized the same burdens I had carried I saw families healed relationships restored and a joy that had long been missing begin to spread among them these are the lives you will touch Jesus said if you remain faithful to the mission I am giving you but know this the
road will not be easy you will face rejection even from those closest to you some will see your transformation as a threat a betrayal of their way of life the enemy will try to silence you to pull you back into fear and doubt but do not be afraid for I am with you always his words struck me deeply the thought of facing rejection of being alienated from my own people filled me with Dread yet as I looked into his eyes I felt a strength that was not my own I realized that this wasn't about me
it was about him and what he wanted to do Through Me Jesus I said my voice trembling How will I know what to say how will I face the challenges ahead he smiled the kind of smile that made every fear Melt Away you already know what to say Eli speak the truth you have seen share the grace you have received and when you face challenges remember this my strength is made perfect in your weakness you do not need to rely on your own abilities I will equip you for every step of the journey as he
spoke I felt a wave of Peace wash over me I didn't need to have all the answers I just needed to trust him to take one step at a time and let him guide me Eli he said his tone growing softer but no less powerful the life you return to will be different but it will be abundant you will walk in Freedom not fear you will know my love not just as a concept but as a reality and you will share that love with others not through rules but through relationship I nodded tears streaming down
my face I will do it I said I will share what you've shown me I will trust you he placed his hand on my shoulder and I felt a surge of warmth and strength unlike anything I had ever known go Eli he said your mission begins now the light around us began to shift growing softer I felt myself being pulled back the warmth of his presence remaining in my heart even as the vision faded I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the side of the road surrounded by paramedics the pain in my body
was intense but it paled in comparison to the peace that filled my soul in the days that followed I began to recover from the accident both physically and emotionally at first I didn't know how to explain what I had experienced who would believe me but the more I prayed the clearer it became I couldn't keep this to myself Jesus hadn't shown me these things just for my benefit I had been given a mission and I couldn't turn away from it the first time I shared my story with my family the reaction was mixed some listened
with quiet awe their eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope others looked at me with suspicion questioning whether I had truly encountered Jesus or simply imagined it the hardest part was facing the rejection of those who couldn't accept what I was saying yet even in those moments I felt the presence of Jesus reminding me that I wasn't alone as I began to share my testimony more widely I saw the seeds of change being planted people who had lived their entire lives under the weight of rules began to see the beauty of Grace those who had doubted
their worth found Hope in the truth that they were loved unconditionally it wasn't an easy Journey but every moment of rejection every challenge I faced was worth it to see even one life transformed now I wake up each day with a renewed sense of purpose I'm no longer bound by fear or striving I am free not because of what I've done but because of what Jesus has done for me and as I walk this path sharing his love and truth I know that he is with me just as he promised my mission is clear and
I will carry it out trusting him every step of the way when I woke up in the hospital my body was battered but my soul felt completely new I lay there staring at the plain white ceiling replaying the words Jesus had spoken to me the peace I felt in that moment was unlike anything I had ever known but it came with a weight of responsibility I had been given a mission and I couldn't ignore it the first test of my resolve came when my family visited me in the hospital my parents and siblings dressed in
their simple Amish clothing looked at me with a mixture of relief and concern my father always a man of few words placed a hand on my shoulder and said God has spared you Eli he must have a purpose for you for your life little did he know how true those words were but I didn't know how to begin explaining what had happened at first I kept the details of my near-death experience to myself I needed time to process it all to pray and seek wisdom about how to share what I had seen and learned but
as the days went on the urgency in my heart grew stronger I couldn't stay silent Jesus had given me a second chance and I had to tell others about the grace I had experienced the first time I shared my story was at home around the dinner table with my family I told them everything how I had felt lost in the darkness the overwhelming love and truth of Jesus and the mission he had given me the room fell silent as I spoke my mother wiped tears from her eyes and my younger siblings listened wide-eyed but my
father's face remained stoic when I finished he leaned back in his chair and said Eli what you're saying it goes against everything we've been taught the ording is the foundation of our faith without it there's only chaos I'm not saying the ording is bad I replied my voice steady but firm but it's not what saves us Jesus showed me that it's his grace not our works that gives us freedom and life the rules should point us to him not replace him my father's expression hardened be be careful Eli questioning the UNG is dangerous it can
lead you down a path away from the community away from everything we stand for I knew his words came from a place of fear not malice he had lived his entire life believing that strict adherence to the rules was the only way to please God but I also knew I couldn't let that fear silence me over the next weeks and months I began sharing my testimony with others in the community at first the response was cautious Cur osity people were intrigued by my story but hesitant to fully embrace the message of Grace over Works some
listened With Tears in their eyes confessing that They too had felt the weight of striving without ever truly feeling God's love others were more resistant accusing me of abandoning the teachings that had guided our people for Generations the opposition grew stronger as word of my testimony spread some Elders in the community warned others not to listen to me labeling me as a troublemaker who threatened the unity of the Amish way of life I was even called before a council of church leaders where they questioned me about my intentions Eli One Elder said his voice heavy
with disappointment you've always been a faithful member of this community why are you sewing division with these ideas I'm not trying to divide anyone I replied I'm trying to point people to Jesus he showed me that it's not about the rules it's about knowing him and living in his grace that's the message I've been called to share their faces were a mix of skepticism and sadness and I left the meeting knowing I was walking a lonely path but even in the face of rejection I felt a deep sense of peace I wasn't alone Jesus was
with me just as he had promised despite the resistance I began to see the seeds of change taking rote one day a young man named Caleb approached me after church he had always been quiet and reserved but now his eyes were filled with a mixture of desperation and hope Eli he said his voice trembling I felt the same doubts you described I followed the ording my whole life but I've never felt close to God I want to know him like you do can you help me hearing those words filled my heart with joy we began
meeting in secret praying together and studying the Bible over time Caleb's Faith grew stronger and he began to experience the freedom and peace that comes from a true relationship with Jesus his transformation inspired others and soon small groups of Believers began forming quietly seeking a deeper connection with God beyond the rules it wasn't easy the opposition didn't go away and there were moments when I felt the weight of loneliness and doubt but every time I prayed I felt the presence of Jesus reminding me of his promise my grace is sufficient for you now as I
look back on those first months I see how God was working even in the hardest moments the seeds of Grace and Truth have begun to spread and while the journey is far from over I know I am walking the path he has set before me I am no longer defined by fear or striving I am a changed man living in the freedom of his love and I will continue to share that message with everyone who will listen for every rejection there is a moment like Caleb's a heart opened a life transformed and that makes every
step of this journey worth it my life is no longer the same the fear the striving and the constant weight of wondering if I was enough are gone I now live with a peace that comes from knowing I am loved by Jesus not because of what I've done but because of who he is his grace has transformed me and my relationship with him is no longer about rules but about trust love and Sur surrender I won't say the journey has been easy there have been challenges rejection and moments of Doubt but through it all I've
seen the power of God's grace not just in my life but in the lives of those around me the seeds of Truth are growing bringing hope to places where there was once only fear and striving and I know this is only the beginning to anyone listening to this I want you to know that Grace is available to you no matter where you've been or what you've done you don't need to earn God's love it's already yours rules and traditions can be good but they were never meant to replace a personal relationship with Jesus he is
calling you to freedom to peace and to a life defined by his love if you feel lost or burdened call out to him he is waiting with open arms ready to forgive to heal and to make you new trust in his grace and you will find the freedom you've been searching for this is the truth that changed my life and I pray it will change yours too