Before Jesus Changed My Life
Before meeting Christ, I was going through the motions and “checking the boxes” of what I thought I was supposed to do in life. My actions were guided by pride and ego, focusing on worldly gains and material possessions. I lacked fulfillment and direction, constantly trying to find satisfaction through financial success and nicer things. But no matter what I achieved it felt like it was never enough. I struggled to maintain control and balance my self-worth based on worldly goals and accomplishments. Even though I was “successful” in my career, I felt no more fulfilled or motivated. The goalposts kept shifting, leaving me frustrated and feeling like I was losing control. At the same time, I was looking for better support and resources to help me raise my young kids. I realized I needed more guidance than the non-biblical sources I was relying on at the time as a newer father.
How Jesus Changed My Life
God changed my life by opening my eyes and providing constant and undeniable signs that led me to Veritas. This prompted a revitalization and refocusing of my faith, ultimately leading me to embrace Jesus as my Savior. Looking back, it’s almost painfully obvious how God blessed me with signs and trials throughout my life. For example, when my wife Christine challenged me to be a better leader of our family and refocus on our faith, we decided the first step was to find a church. I work at TrueNorth, which is literally across the street from Veritas and (placed by God) directly in my path. We began attending initially since it was the “easy” choice, but it completely re-started my faith. When we began visiting Veritas regularly, we were immediately welcomed by Chris Gulker, a colleague at TrueNorth, and Sam Anderson, a friend from high school. Their warm greetings made us feel right at home, reinforcing that we were in the right place and now I know following God’s plan. Almost immediately after attending, I started to truly listen and hear the sermons and worship message that ultimately inspired me to change my life to glorify God. As I continued attending Veritas, the prayers and sermons from Jake, Ian, and Michael—especially those from James—resonated deeply with me. Each week, they provided the tools and messages I needed. Every Sunday felt like a strong kick in the spiritual pants, as if God was speaking directly to me, offering the guidance I needed. I found myself asking, “Does my life truly reflect that of Jesus? Is my faith obvious in my actions, words, and lifestyle?” I left each service feeling both convicted and refreshed, re-energized by the Word and the love of God. I was given a wealth of tools and resources to help me expand my faith and dig deeper into the Bible than I ever had before. Through the grace of God and Jesus, I have been saved, enabling me to live a life that praises God.
My Life After Jesus Saved Me
After my life changed and I was brought back to God, I began to self-reflect and identify the personal sins that had been keeping me distant from my faith. I learned—and continue to work on—putting my trust and control entirely in God. Now, I view life through a new biblical lens. I started to recognize how my actions, words, and the content I consumed—previously dismissed as “no big deal”—were leading me down the wrong path, one that was not aligned with the life I wanted to build for myself and my family. I focused on “cleaning up” my life, removing ungodly language and content from my daily routine, and replacing it with biblical resources and the Word of God. For example, I swapped my crude sports podcasts for the Veritas equipping podcast and began reading the Bible daily. Prayer has transformed for me as well. Previously, I viewed it as a routine before meals or something I did haphazardly during church. Now, I pray constantly throughout the day, communicating with God—both in moments of gratitude and as a means of seeking His guidance. When challenges arise, I immediately view them as trials and see them as opportunities to grow and deepen my faith. As James 1:2-3 reminds us, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." Through all of this, I have the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ, and I am grateful every day for the transformation He has brought into my life.