Over the past two years, my faith has grown more meaningful to me than ever before. Growing up, I went to youth group on Wednesdays here and there and occasionally attended Sunday services. Faith wasn’t a priority for me, though. The summer before my freshman year, I went to church camp in Colorado. I saw it more as a chance to meet new friends than a time of worship. Even so, I came back feeling that getting baptized was the next step—so I did. But, in reality, my high school years didn’t reflect a life committed to Jesus.

Fast forward several years, and my priorities have shifted. Today, what’s important to me is completely different. My husband and I started going to our current church on and off when we began dating, but about two years ago, we made it a priority. Together, we joined a small group and started serving on teams during services.

In January 2024, I chose to get baptized again, this time knowing what it meant to surrender my life to Jesus fully. I’d love to share the testimony I gave that day:

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“My whole life, I believed in a higher power, but it wasn’t until recently that I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and put my complete trust in Him. I went through a dark time while in an emotionally toxic relationship. I was belittled for my faith, even called stupid for believing. I became angry and turned my back on God, which affected my life, my family, and my relationships. I even dropped out of school.

When I met my now-husband and his four children, a bit of light came into my life. The innocence of the children and hearing them sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ at bedtime softened my heart. But I still struggled with anger and anxiety. The six of us began attending Crosspoint regularly, and my heart softened even more. Three years ago, we welcomed our youngest into the family, and though it was a difficult pregnancy, I was starting to ask God the big questions again.

Earlier this year, we faced a family challenge that required me to put my entire trust in God. I felt a peace I’d never experienced before and surrendered my life to Jesus. I realized that the problems I face aren’t really mine alone. My heart softened in ways I didn’t think were possible. I want to be baptized to show my kids that people can change and that believing in Jesus is COOL, not STUPID!”

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When people ask why I chose to be baptized again, the answer is simple: at 13 or 14, I got baptized because it was what my friends were doing after church camp. Now, this commitment is truly between me and God—a testament to my own choice and my journey to let Him guide my life.

Does this mean I’m perfect? Absolutely not. Does it mean I won’t ever fall? No! And does it mean that I’ll always have the same fire I felt immediately after my baptism? Probably not. In fact, I already feel that fire has declined some days. But that’s okay. Faith is a lifelong journey of ups and downs, not a moment of perfection.

Every day, I pray for my children to see my faith through every season of life—the highs, the struggles, and the times when I feel a bit distant. I hope that one day, they’ll understand that faith is steady and unfailing, even when our own hearts waver. My prayer is that they, too, grow up knowing they can lean on Jesus in every season and that they are loved beyond measure.

This journey will always have its challenges, but I am grateful to be walking it with my family and to have the chance to model this faith for them. After all, faith isn’t about being perfect; it’s about coming back to God time and again, trusting that He is there to guide us through it all.