I didn’t grow up in the church, and without a solid community, I found myself without a purpose. I thought for my entire life that my existence was a mistake, being an unplanned child to teen parents, and because of that, I could never find myself feeling whole.
For the brief time she was with us, my grandma served as a window to what leading a life devoted to Christ could look like, and with her passing, I found comfort in knowing she was in heaven, opening up the conversation for me as to what heaven is.
It wasn’t until I fully accepted Jesus into my life that I realized the parts of me I felt were missing were because I was searching for them in earthly materials, people, abstract concepts, empty promises meant to heal me, but never enough for what I was missing was the acknowledgement of Jesus’s love. I was designed in God’s image, and because of this reflection brought on by devoted and disciplined time spent with God during Sunday services and Scripture study guided by the light that is Jesus Christ working through my friends, I came to realize that the empty life I was leading was not only unfulfilling but disrespectful to the ultimate sacrifice made on the Cross.
Because of this, I made the conscious decision to give my life to Jesus. To project his unwavering love as best as I can in this life, to continue to show people how impactful his ultimate sacrifice for salvation is.
One of my favorite verses to look back on is Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior." I reflect on this verse when I feel my faith wavering or in tumultuous situations, because it serves as a reminder that God is there for me, a strong foundation to lean on.