New Believer #2

Tell me about your journey to faith in Christ?

I was a person that had everything together – good education, good job, financially secure, everything. As I got older though, I realized that my life seemed pointless. I talked to various friends and family about it, and got all sorts of answers, ranging from “You need a hobby” to meditation. A co-worker always talked to me about God and how He could change my life. we talked and talked, and the more I talked to him, the more it made sense. After several months of discussing different options, back and forth, I dedicated my life to Him. Life has not been easy since then, by far. I have many questions and doubts, but God always comes through for me. I believe He is taking my skeptical heart and changing it into something else!

What helped you the most to step over the line and make    the commitment?

I was always searching for answers – I had a few Christian friends over the years, but no one very close. I had this idea that Christians were boring and sucked the fun out of everything. As I got older, I realized I was running out of options. Giving Jesus a try seemed like a good idea – and now I can’t imagine life without Him.

What has been the best part of becoming a Christ follower for you?

Honestly, the best part is knowing that there IS a God who cares and loves ME personally. He speaks to me and wants the best for me. He offers me everything I could ever want and more. What more could I ask for?!

What has been the most challenging part of following God?

In the very beginning, there were things I did not understand that most Christians do understand. “Christianese” and church culture were foreign to me, so I fumbled quite a bit before I learned what these things meant. Phrases like, ‘did you do your devotions?’ confused me quite a bit, because I had no idea what that person was talking about! It is fine now, but at first, it was as if I was learning a foreign language or something.

What do you think is helping you grow the most in your faith?

For me, reading my Bible helps me grow so much. I have a study Bible and it was so amazing to think about how deep the Bible went – I realized the truth in it, and it made me realize that if I could live my life based on this, I would be satisfied. I also learned about the life and character of Jesus, the man I was now modeling my life after. This was a guideline for me as to how to live my life. 

What advice do you have for me in helping others like you to  grow in their faith?

The biggest thing would be to not be so critical. Wanting to change your life is a challenging enough task without someone criticizing you and saying what you should and should not be doing. At the same time, don’t leave a new Christian alone in their walk with God! There should be balance between helping them grow in their relationship with God, but also not knocking them down every time they make a mistake.

My friend that I asked these questions to is a very different type of person. He is very smart and analytical, so his search for God was a decision he made through logic and thinking. He did say that it was so difficult for him to simply believe that God was there. After he decided to take the plunge, God became so much more real to him than before. It was amazing for him to see and realize that God does care for him. He says that even now, almost a year after he has been saved, he still is sometimes overwhelmed with the knowledge that there is a God who cares and is in charge.

It was really cool talking to someone who had to figure out his own salvation, and really search for it. I grew up in a Christian home so I cannot relate to this, but it must be amazing to find God on your own. His story reminds me of the lost coin – when she found it, she was so thrilled! In the same way, he found the answer he was looking for and is overwhelmed now! It is amazing how God works=)

For me, I grew up in a Christian home, so all this “church stuff” is totally normal to me. I do not bat an eye when I hear that someone is “laying down their life to Him” or “slain in the Spirit” or that someone was “washed in the Blood.” All these statements are fine, but it is all “Christianese.” If I was a non-believer and I heard people talking like this, I’d be like…uhm, you’re all crazy. I think this is something that we could keep in mind for the non-believers or new believers among us and watch what we say and make sure we’re not just blabbing!