I grew up in a Christian household with two loving parents who taught me from a young age who Jesus is. I accepted Him as my Savior when I was five years old. Despite this, I didn’t take my faith seriously for a long time. When I was 15, I went through some difficult times. I didn’t know how to rely on God because I never had a reason to rely on Him before. This left me feeling alone—hurting and grieving with no one to turn to. It wasn’t until I was 16 that I began to understand more fully who He is and my need for Him and how to trust in Him. Through a set of challenges and hard times, I began to actually dig into the Word because I couldn’t fix myself. I began to see how much I needed Him to give me strength and peace. When I leaned on Him I was able to experience hope in the hurting, strength in my weakness, peace in the storms, and joy in my sorrow. 

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20

God was with me in my hardest times, even if I wasn’t looking for Him. He held me in the worst days and was there with me on my best days. He truly is the best thing out there. After leaning into Him I have been a much more joyous person. The hard times are inevitable, but even still He is good, and there is beauty in the brokenness. Times haven’t always been easy since then. I have still had struggles with following what He says, and I’ve gone about things the wrong way, but He is such a gracious and loving God. He’s still working in me and growing me through grace. I don’t have it all figured out, but the beauty of it is He doesn’t need me to be perfect and have everything together. He wants me exactly where I am.

God has called me to publicly display my love for him through baptism. I was sprinkled as an infant but never saw it as my baptism. I grew up being taught that my sprinkling was my baptism, and the fear of what other people would think made me resist following what God had put on my heart. I was so scared of doing it for show or people thinking I was doing the wrong thing, and that caused me to be complacent. I don’t want to live that way anymore, so I’m taking a step in faith and proclaiming that He is my Savior. This is what I believe, and I will follow him for the rest of my life.