What was life like before you met Jesus?

Before I met Jesus, I was very self-absorbed. I wanted control of every aspect of my life. I thought I had it all together and could figure it all out alone. I found my identity in the friend groups I had, the grades I got, and the amount of success I thought I could have in my future. Even though so many people surrounded me, I always felt lonely. I kept turning to others for validation and satisfaction, but it never seemed to add up.

How did you meet Jesus?

I was desiring something more, something consistent. I grew up in a Christian home and attended a private Christian school. I had been a Christian since I was eight, but my faith had only been tested at the beginning of my senior year of high school. My friend group had fallen apart. As a high schooler, I was taking a very stressful college course load, trying to figure out all my next steps for college, and working three different jobs. Everything I had put my identity in, people, work, and future successes, was falling apart, and it was out of my control. I had no other choice but to trust Jesus. I started consistently attending church on Sundays and youth group on Wednesday nights. During this time at church, we were studying Revelation, and I was reminded of a terrifying verse. Revelation 3:16-17: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth." This was an exact representation of my life before Christ. It was a wake-up call! I knew my Christian walk had not been modeling Jesus and that my heart's desires were not those of His heart. I had been following Christ for nine years but not passionately pursuing Him. I realized how much better His plan was than mine, and even though I had no idea what it entailed, He did, so that's all that mattered.

After being saved by Jesus, what is your life like now?

The Lord provides! Since choosing the Lord, He has given me a great community of people who also love Him, a steady job, a great college community, and so many dreams for the future that have just been planted recently. It felt like the Lord hugged me and said, "I've got this! You can just sit back and enjoy it all." Easier said than done, but Jesus is so sweet! He knocks on my door and comes in with open arms even when I shut Him out. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 has always been such a great reminder that there is a spot for me in Heaven and Christ has a crown waiting for me. It says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but to all those who have loved his appearing." I am now His disciple, meaning I need to pick up my cross daily and die to myself because His gift is more significant than anything I could ever desire!