Blessed Assurance: Whitley Morrow

When I was saved in 2018, I never realized how much getting saved at age 24 would play into my struggle with assurance. I spent 24 years of my life as a girl who didn’t speak the name of the Lord or matter of fact, even think of Him. But, the call of God went out on that day, and it created what it was commanded to do – it gave me life.

“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Gen 2:7 ESV).  

At this time, I didn’t really understand what was going on in my life; all I knew was that I was different. I was still Whitley, but my desires and thought patterns were different – let me tell you, I was very confused. I lacked discipleship and assurance, but I am thankful that I became a part of a wonderful congregation at Jackson Park Baptist Church that continuously poured into me the truth of God’s Word. As my knowledge of the Lord grew, my heart grew with it, and I was endlessly brought back the faithfulness of God. The truth that my salvation was not contingent on me, but it was contingent on Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. I can remember Pastor JR teaching on the doctrine of election, it scared me at first because I struggled with assurance, but I learned that election is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness. It is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners.  

“and those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Rom 8:30).

God chose to save me even though I am constantly unfaithful. The doctrine of election brings me assurance because I am only where I am today because of Him and His faithfulness in doing what He promised He would do. We see God’s faithfulness throughout Scripture – starting with the first mention of the gospel, the protoevangelium, in Genesis 3:15, to the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and to the book of Revelation, providing hope which is the anticipation of something that is certain. This idea of certainty is what brings me back to being assured in the work Christ has done for me personally. Assurance is a notion of security. What greater security do we have than the blood of Christ that was poured out for us? There is no greater security. It reminds me of how many times we are commanded to remember - to remember the work God has done on our behalf.

“and he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:27-28).

So, here I am four years after God chose to send out His call, which did what it was created to do in giving me life. I would not be telling the truth if I said that I don’t struggle with assurance at times. Still, God has provided an endless supply of His faithfulness in bringing me back to the place of my salvation so that I can remember that it was then when He chose to quicken me to life, and it was then when He enabled me to turn from my sin and follow Him.

I will continue to follow Him all the days of my life.

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Ps 89:1).

meet whitley!

Whitley Morrow is from Concord, North Carolina but her roots are in the North Carolina Mountains. She is a distance learning student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary pursing a bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling along with her master’s degree in Christian Marital, Family, and Individual Counseling. She has been married to her husband, Blake, since November of 2020 and they have three pets – Sweet Pea the Staffordshire Terrier, Cash the Corgi, and Finn the cat. The Morrow’s are members at Jackson Park Baptist Church in Kannapolis where they serve the local body and community. Whitley enjoys photography and her favorite place to visit is Charleston, SC.