What was life like before you met Jesus?
Before I met God I was lacking stability and self-worth. I thought I could find these things just about anywhere. At one point I was having sex because I thought it would make me feel less lonely. Then when I realized that this wasn't the case, I determined I did it because I thought sex was meaningless. On top of this, I got high a lot, trying to rid myself of my anxieties and ignore the fact that I felt empty all the time. I’d frequently put my feelings about things before that of God. When I realized that I had found God I knew that I wanted to stop having sex until I was married, and I no longer wanted to smoke. I wanted to give him my worries and look to him for guidance. Though while I knew that this was something I felt called to do, I didn’t choose God for a long time, and I was aware of this in every action from then on out. It haunted me, and I couldn't forgive myself for not following God as I'd wanted to.
How did you meet Jesus?
I ultimately decided while in my relationship, that I wanted to embrace God, and I wanted to do it with my partner. In doing so I found myself and finally was given purpose for my life. One day I came across 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
After reading this, I knew that while I had messed up in the past, and I will mess up again in the future, it was okay because God loves us. He loves all of us, and nothing will change that. Knowing this, I embraced God. I chose to attend church and Salt. I went to the Salt conference last year, and that is what really did it for me. I heard what they were saying up on that stage and I knew that Jesus was my savior. I now understand that sex is meant to happen between a man and a woman who are in love and married, and that you can’t rid your anxieties with drugs because they will just come back when the drugs wear off.
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
Now that I am embracing a life with God, and I have meaning. I have come to realize my calling, I was put here to help the less fortunate navigate their way. To others, this doesn't make sense, because why would I want to spend the rest of my life doing something that barely pays. Though it pays me in more ways than money, because doing things for others is rewarding for me. Philippians 2:4 says “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Now that I am saved, and I know what I am meant to do, I feel whole. This is because I have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Which is more than enough for me. Even though people second-guessed my choices, I knew that I was making the right decisions. I am doing God’s will, just as 1 John 2:17 says: "And the world is passing aways along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."