In Search of Happiness She failed to find what she was longing for— until she opened her heart to God. By Kaye Montgomery

I was taken to church from the time I was a small child. My grandparents raised me because my mother died when I was eleven years old. They were very strict, and as I grew into my late teens, it seemed to me that my friends were having more fun than I was. I thought that if I could just get away from the church I attended, maybe I could enjoy life a little more. So I asked my grandmother for permission to go to different churches. I found out that no matter where I was, God followed me. Every time I did something that was wrong, I felt condemned for it.

Later, I thought if I could just get married, then I would find happiness. I graduated from high school at the age of seventeen and was married soon after, but it was not long before my husband and I were arguing about almost everything, including religion. My husband was brought up in the Apostolic Faith Church and although he was not a Christian either, he knew where he wanted to go when he was ready to seek salvation.

I then looked for happiness in becoming a new mother. The Lord really dealt with my heart when our first child was born. He was premature, and we did not know if he was going to live. As I lay there in the hospital bed, I promised the Lord that if He would help our baby to live, I would find a church to attend. When my husband was out of the military, I did find a church, but basically all I did was attend. Oh, I took part in the choir and sang specials, but I was not happy inside. I remember singing, “Do You Know My Jesus?” The Lord spoke to me and let me know that I did not truly know Him personally myself.

Our marriage was fast becoming a wreck. We had a second child on the way. My husband was running around with his friends and racing motorcycles while I was left at home and getting bitter. I began to think that maybe if I got out of my marriage, I would be happy.

One Easter Sunday morning, my husband and I went to the Apostolic Faith Church. I remember feeling love as I sat there. Also, I felt as though I was the worst sinner in the world. The Lord talked to my heart, but I was not ready to pray. I thought if I could get out the door, it would be a long time before I went back! After the service, my husband’s grandmother invited us to come back the next Sunday because revival meetings were starting. My husband said, “We’ll be here.” I was so angry at him!

That next week was like a tug of war in my heart. The Lord talked to my soul, but the devil was trying to convince me that I could not be happy as a young person living a Christian life. When I went to bed that Saturday night, I had made up my mind that I would fake a headache or something so my husband would have to go to church without me. However, the next morning, God spoke to my heart. I got up, got our little boy ready, and went to church. When they sang the last song, my husband turned to me with tears running down his face and said, “Honey, do you want to go and pray?” I probably ran to the altar of prayer, because I knew that was my chance. The Lord wonderfully saved me.

God gave me a new life that day, and I found out what true happiness is. Later, God sanctified me and filled me with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In the years since then, He has answered many prayers. There have been some difficult times, and some hard trials, but the Lord has been with me. I do not know what I would have done if I had not had the Lord to turn to. I love Him with all my heart. I want to be ready when He comes for me, because I want to thank Him for everything He has done for me.

Kaye Montgomery is a member of the Apostolic Faith Church in Roseburg, Oregon, where her husband is the pastor.