Tuesday Testimonies – Brooke Hinkson

As we travel on our spiritual journey, it’s always encouraging to hear from others how God has worked in their lives. Periodically we’ll share testimonies from our NAOBC Women on how God worked in their life. Today’s testimony is from Brooke Hinkson.

Brooke and her husband, Ethan, became members of NAOBC in early 2021. They attend YC3 and serve in the children’s ministry and with the Avery Apartment Ministry. You can read more about Brooke here.

“My committed Christian parents gave me much: love, an example, stability, physical provision, the Good News about Jesus, and manners. They took it seriously – training their children ‘in the way they should go.’ Of course I am eternally grateful for all they have done for me, but what they could never impart to me was my own faith and relationship with the Lord.

This reality came to the forefront of my life when I was 16. I had made a profession of faith and was baptized by immersion at 4. Since then, I mostly followed the rules, got good grades, and didn’t cause too much trouble. However, I had evil motivations, selfish tendencies, and even bitterness in my heart. The Holy Spirit worked in me to show me how even the ‘good things’ I did were done mostly all for me. After a sermon analogy at church camp and then spending 5 weeks alone (away from family and friends) in a secular academic environment in 2015, I knew I was desperate for a Savior and I was convinced that Savior is Jesus. That same summer, two acquaintances from my hometown died very young and this caused me to face the fragility of my own life. God gave me a tremendous appetite for Scripture. I would describe my conversion as a quest for truth. In a postmodern world afraid of accepting objective truth, I was desperate for it. After all, the truth about Jesus has eternal implications.

After several months (which felt like years) passed of seeking God in His Word, I knew that I could have complete assurance and peace. Like a child, I gave up trying to be good on my own, repented, and simply believed that He saves those who call on Him. 

I believe God really changed my heart then. Though even today I have fought to believe that God is good, I trust His Word. I have seen how God provides relationships and material things. I have also felt heartbreak and may not ever know this side of heaven why those things happened. Relationship with the Lord Is indeed a relationship. He never does wrong, but we certainly do. We can grow and regress, feel pain and joy, and remain sustained by Him through it all. 

I would love to discuss more about marriage, insecurities with your body, problems with pure thoughts, stress/dental school, friendship, family, Elisabeth Elliot, anything really!

A couple of my favorite quotes…

‘God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.’ C. H. Spurgeon

‘If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.’ Corrie Ten Boom”