What was life like before you met Jesus?
I grew up with a loving family that had our priorities aligned with God’s, but once I left for college, I lost focus on what was important and began my worldly pursuit. My career was at the center of nearly every decision I made. It took me to a new job nearly every six months and I never searched for community outside of work. To make matters more challenging, I worked Sunday’s and never listened or read the Lord’s Word. Every year the gospel became less important. My worldly pursuits were coming together, but my world was lacking joy and I found myself alone.
How did you meet Jesus?
I moved to Cedar Rapids in 2015, my first 5 years were much of the same story. A ton of work and a lot of worldly pursuits. In 2016, everything started to unravel. I was divorced at the beginning of the year, and in November my only sibling was in a car accident that changed everything for my family in Kansas City. She recovered in Nebraska for a year before moving home to live with my parents. I would regularly drive to Nebraska and back in one day to try and balance my workload while still being a son and brother. By 2018, my career left me empty, far from family, and unfulfilled. I resigned at the end of golf season which I thought was the change I needed. Creating a more traditional work schedule, I thought I found the recipe for happiness, but I only filled that time with distractions and unfulfilling relationships. Over the past few years, God’s grace and mercy have been evident in my walk with Christ.
Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” I now wholeheartedly believe this.
After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?
Today, my walk with Christ is fulfilling, humbling yet filled with joy. I have a better understanding of the gospel, and how to navigate the crazy world we live in. My priorities follow the gospel, and Jesus has put a church in my life that is the community and support that I need. The blessings He has provided me with are more than I deserve. He has blessed me with my wife, Taylor, our daughter, Eleanor, and one on the way in February. Professionally, Jesus opened a door for me in 2022 to leave a challenging organization, and placed me on an unexpected one that is owned and guided by God fearing leadership. God is so good and as Psalm 23:1 reads, “The Lord is my shepherd, I Shall not want”. God provides everything I need.