Before Jesus Changed My Life

I was baptized as a baby in a Lutheran church that I attended until I graduated high school. Prior to attending Veritas in 2021, I would’ve said my spiritual life was doing ok because I believed in God and thought that was enough. Looking back, most of my life was spent trying to please others. My school years were spent working hard to succeed in school and sports. I worked hard at both for my parents and to impress my friends who were all in AP and college classes. My family attended church every week, but at that point in my life it was out of obligation, not by choice. Once I lived on my own, I used college, new friends, and work as excuses not to attend regularly. I lived my life for me and me alone, with little regard for God and his overwhelming love and desire to be part of my life.

How Jesus Changed My Life

God has been pursuing me my entire life, and I repeatedly turned my back. In 8th grade, I attended bible camp for a week, which was my first experience having a personal connection with God. Prayer was constant throughout the day as a group, but we also had individual time to read our Bibles. I was introduced to people my age who were so passionate about God and what He’s done for us. In college, I was invited to attend a weeknight service at a neighboring college. I was again shocked by how the students outwardly showed their love for Jesus. It was so different from what had been modeled for me that it made me want to learn more and dig deeper into my own faith. In 2021, we were invited to attend a service at Veritas. We’d been talking for months about finding a church and had been to a couple of different ones in the area. We continued to show up on Sundays, and slowly, God began to be everywhere in my life. Now, I can’t imagine what my life would look like without him. He succeeded in showing me what I had been missing in my life and was my strength through the toughest season of my life. I clung to Psalm 23 and His promise of comfort, mercy, and safety.

My Life After Jesus Saved Me

Now, I’m so thankful to have been invited, again, into God’s world. I’ve learned how to have conversations individually with God and with others. I’ve learned that prayer doesn’t have to be done in private, and I can talk to God more comfortably throughout my day. I’ve let go of control of aspects of my life that cause me stress because I know only God has control (Matthew 6:33-34). He’s placed faithful friends and leaders in my life and changed my heart about so many things. God has always been there. Through my sin and repeated turning away, God has continued to refine, forgive, and bless me with eternal life in Heaven.