Before Jesus Changed My Life
Growing up, I always went to church with my grandma. I told myself that I believed in God for a long time, but I didn’t really act like it. Church was just part of my routine. In my junior year of high school, I started dating a guy and got into the wrong friend group. I wasn’t acting Christlike in any way, and I was barely going to church at this point. I was spending my weekends drinking and constantly gossiping. After a little while, I started getting really depressed. I had no self-confidence and felt worthless. I began to live for the temporary pleasures and experiences of this world. It’s like there was a hole in my life and heart that I was constantly trying to fill with alcohol and partying all the time. I was truly in one of the roughest spots I’ve ever been in my life.
How Jesus Changed My Life
When I moved to college, I knew I needed a change, but I just didn’t know how. I went to the Salt kickoff in August 2025 and was so surprised at how nice and inviting everyone was. I felt like I had finally found my people. After that, I went to Salt for the very first time, and Danny was preaching about what real life in Christ was like, and how you can’t have Jesus plus the world. This is when I realized I was not living a righteous lifestyle at all, and I felt God tugging at my heart and telling me to change. The next week at Salt, I decided to truly give my life to Jesus and live for Him in the correct way. I got out of my sinful relationship and stopped drinking and partying. I now get to experience what Paul writes about in Philippians 1:20-21. I’ve honestly never felt more fulfilled and happy in my life. I found so much more joy in my relationship with God than I ever had when I was living for the world and trying to please everyone. I have come to embrace the gospel, which is the free gift of God given to us so that we can live eternally with God free from our sin. Jesus died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we could forever live with Him. (Romans 6:23)
My Life After Jesus Saved Me
Since the day that I fully put my all into God, he has blessed me time and time again. I have some amazing friends who I wouldn’t trade for the world. I never even knew I could have friendships so genuine that they push me to better myself and my relationship with God. I have also realized that I am a lot more content in life now. I’ve stopped seeking validation from men and what my friends think of me and started truly growing my relationship with Jesus. I also find myself much less hot-headed and much more genuine than I have ever been. One of my favorite verses to meditate on is Ephesians 2:13-14, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”. I just think it’s such a comforting verse considering my past and how differently I used to live my life, I truly resonate with this verse so much. Another amazing blessing that I have gotten to witness is how much God has moved in my sister. I will forever be grateful that I have been lucky enough to watch her grow in her faith. Watching her raise her hands in church for the first time, to coming home to her reading her bible. It has been amazing. I just know God is still working on me, and I am so excited for what amazing plans he has for my life.