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Finding true peace in your faith can sometimes feel like a journey through a dark valley. Many people search for years to satisfy the deepest longings of their hearts. In her book My Journey Through the Cross, Ashley D. Wille shares how she discovered that many of her beliefs about God were simply wrong.
For the devoted Christian seeking devotional ideas for Christian beginners, her story offers real help for anyone wanting to grow closer to God.
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What Grace Really Means
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
—Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace sounds like a simple word, but understanding it can change everything. Ashley Wille spent years trying hard to please God by following all the rules: “Believing for so long that my righteousness before God depended on my obedience to the Ten Commandments led to guilt and condemnation because I was never able to live up to this impossible spiritual standard.”
The good news is different than what many think.
A faithful follower of Christ need not have to earn God’s love through perfect behavior because the mere presence of God’s grace means He already accepts you right where you are. The struggle to become good enough ends when you realize Christ already finished the work within you.
The realization of this truth sets people free from the endless cycle of trying harder and failing more. When a committed church member begins to understand grace, the church stops being about performance and starts being about relationship.
Remember: God wants you, not your perfect record.
Letting Go of Control
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:7
Surrender may sound scary, but it actually brings complete peace. This is not the surrender of the body to a human master; no, this is the surrender of the soul to the divine.
For years, Ashley tried to control everything in her life, keeping to herself and never wavering despite the pressure that was building up. From her marriage problems to her busy-busy schedule to her children’s needs—she carried it all herself.
Then she learned something important.
“I remember, as a nine-year-old, running to my mother’s call one afternoon to witness a special newscast… The President of the United States was in big trouble for lying and cheating.”
This moment taught her that earthly authorities may fail, but God never does and never will.
The steadfast religious practitioner quickly learns that trying to control life only leads to exhaustion. True surrender means giving God your plans, your worries, and your future. It is only He who can handle what you cannot. Thus, letting go of control opens your hands to receive what He wants to give.
Freedom from the Guilt Trap
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
—2 Corinthians 3:17
Guilt weighs heavily on many believers as they carry past mistakes like heavy stones. Ashley discovered something freeing about guilt and condemnation: “The name Satan means ‘the accuser or adversary’ of the brethren. Satan deceives and accuses God’s people. When accused, one feels guilty. Yet Jesus, our Defender, says that in Him there is no condemnation.”
For a dedicated spiritual disciple, this truth changes everything.
When guilty feelings come rushing in, you can look behind them to find the enemy’s voice. Then remember what Jesus says about you: He does not hold your sins against you.
This does not mean sin does not matter; it simply means the payment for sin has been made. Christ already took it all, allowing you to live free from guilt and allowing you to serve God with joy instead of fear.
You can be honest about your struggles without letting them define you.
Finding Rest in a Busy World
Modern life never stops–phones keep ringing, schedules keep piling up, and demands are always coming. Ashley learned that rest is not just nice—it is necessary, pointing to Hebrews 4:9-11, which talks about entering God’s Sabbath rest.
“In this faith, I apply Hebrews 12:1-2: let us throw aside every encumbrance and that sin which so readily clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance the appointed course set before us, looking away from all that will distract to Jesus.”
The faithful follower of Christ needs times of stillness. Constant activity drowns out God’s quiet voice. Thus, rest is not laziness; it is trust.
When you rest, you say to God that He is in control, not you.
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Walking Free Every Day
Freedom in Christ is not just a one-time experience, for it is a daily walk.
Ashley learned to apply truth to her circumstances rather than letting them distort it. When guilt tried to return, she asked herself, “Why would I ask God to do what He has already done?”
The dedicated spiritual disciple is one who practices this daily. When old habits try to regain control, remember who you are now: a new creation in Christ with the old version having passed away.
You no longer have to serve those old masters.
This freedom grows stronger with practice each time you choose truth over lies, building new pathways in your mind until, over time, walking in freedom becomes natural; your new normal.
Ashley’s story shows that anyone can find a deeper relationship with God.
“I found the ultimate and eternal treasure in the loving and personal living God. In Jeremiah 29:13 He says, ‘You will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’ I did. And I have.”
You do not have to stay stuck where you are. God invites you closer. He wants you to know His grace, experience His love, and rest in His presence. The journey may have hard parts, but the destination is worth it.
If Ashley’s story speaks to your heart, My Journey Through the Cross offers much more. So, let her story encourage your faith and find hope, healing, and a God who loves you more than you can imagine.
