Testimony - Canon Ian Loynd
"I grew up in rural Devon, shaped by faith and community. Church life was always there—worship, singing, and serving. As a teacher in a church school, both my career and my relationship with God deepened.
Though my journey seems unremarkable, I’ve learned that nothing is ordinary to the God who created me. There were hard moments—especially at university, when facing my sexuality led to real spiritual struggle. I felt lost, but even then, God was gently calling me back.
I began to pray, “Here I am, Lord. I am yours.” That prayer brought peace. If you’re feeling restless or unsure of your worth, know this: God sees you, loves you, and gave His Son for you. That’s truly remarkable."
My faith journey is, in almost every way, unremarkable. Born in rural Devon, where community is underpinned by faith and farming, I attended the local Anglican church from birth. Throughout my childhood, worshipping, singing and serving would abide. As an adult, I was called to teach in a church school and, as I developed in professional confidence and conviction, so too would my faith deepen and mature.
Unremarkable, yes. But perhaps that’s the point? Unremarkable moments in the life of an unremarkable man, yet priceless and precious to the most remarkable God of Creation (Psalm 118:24, Genesis 1:27). Little, irrelevant, unremarkable me - having meaning to God in whose image I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). What a revelation!
Like every journey, there have been bumps in the road. My university years were testing, and embracing my sexual orientation - learning to love myself once more - was emotionally and spiritually arduous. Why did God make me this way? I felt angry, resentful and alone. Yet, however far I had strayed, I felt God calling me back. The God of Grace, who was calling me to glory in Jesus Christ, would strengthen and restore me (1 Peter 5:10). I simply could not shift that nagging feeling - a type of restlessness and seeking - that only Christ could assuage (Job 7:4). I began to pray a simple prayer: ‘Here am I, Lord. I am yours’ (Isaiah 6: 8).
I wonder if you feel unremarkable like me? Perhaps you are experiencing a sort of restlessness and dissatisfaction with life that you cannot shake off? If so, then why not pray that simple prayer? ‘Here I am, Lord. I am yours!’ God has made you with purpose and God is working for your good (Romans 8:28). You are so valuable and so important to God that he sent his only Son, Jesus, to save you. And that’s pretty remarkable.