Before Jesus Changed My Life
Before Christ I was a very broken person, I lived in a broken family with abuse, neglect, narcissistic behavior, and more. I cussed just about every sentence that came out of my mouth. I lived a life of sex, drugs, boys, alcohol, and more.
How Jesus Changed My Life
I came to Cedar Rapids for college after deciding the University of Iowa wasn't for me. When I came here I knew nobody, I had never been to Cedar Rapids in my life. I got a random roommate that ended up being terrible and ignoring me for 2 years. I was very depressed, lonely, and my mental health was at an all-time low. But God brought my friend Naomi into my life and used her to share the good news of Jesus with me. I didn't believe in God when I met Naomi a year ago, I was resistant to the gosepl, but she kept bringing him up in conversation and inviting me to church and Salt. Eventually, I agreed to go just because. I felt so out of place and uncomfortable being in the church, but I kept going for a while. I still didn't believe and was struggling to understand what I was learning, but one day I decided to pray for the first time at Salt and God revealed himself to me that night. After that I knew he was there, but I still couldn't wrap my head around the stories I was hearing in the Bible. I struggled to believe in the life of Jesus. I continued to grow in my faith in knowledge of God and reading scripture and eventually, I came to realize that I believed in the life of Jesus. God sent his son to live and die for our sins so that we may be forgiven and receive his free gift of eternal life with God. Romans 6:23 " for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is internal life in christ Jesus our Lord". It wasn’t an instant change, it happened gradually over time. I think that's okay, God knew I needed time to find trust in him.
My Life After Jesus Saved Me
After the night God revealed himself to me, I committed my life to learning and trusting in him. I have never been happier or more at peace. Everything has changed - I am a new person. I used to be so full of pure fear and anxiety daily, and now I can't remember my last panic attack. My life is so full of God that there is not much room for anxiety. My former life of sin is not appealing anymore. Every day I'm with God and my community of believers and it has been so fulfilling. I am forever grateful that God revealed himself to me and opened my eyes to my need for him.