1. You will face adversity – maybe even more than before
   • I used to think that being a Christian would make things easier. And in some ways, it did. There is a sense of peace, comfort, hope, and purpose I feel now that I didn’t before. But, I didn’t know that choosing Him would feel like learning to walk on water. In today’s world, people are too comfortable mocking Jesus and His followers. I used to be uncomfortable about my faith when I first got saved, but now I am a proud believer in Christ, and nobody can shake my faith in Him.
2. The conviction will hit you hard – and that’s a good thing
   • I’ll admit, after I got saved, I still held onto things my old self enjoyed – secular music, TV shows, and media. And the conviction felt like guilt – but I realized it was God’s love. His correction is not condemnation – it is His kindness pulling me closer, saying, “I have more for you than this.” I learned to trust that He wants my heart and my healing, not my perfection.
3. You will fall short – again and again
   • I used to think that I would somehow arrive at godliness. That the old sins or habits would magically disappear after salvation. But sanctification is a journey, not a destination. God doesn’t run out of grace for me, even when I run out of it for myself. He knows every mistake I’ve ever made – and will make – and He still chose me.
4. You won’t always feel Him – but that doesn’t mean He left
   • There were some days where the silence from God was deafening. I felt like I did something wrong or wasn’t doing enough, and maybe He gave up on me. But faith isn’t a feeling, it’s the truth. And the truth is – God is steady, and even when I’m unsure, He is there with me, even in the silence. I love the poem “Footprints” as a gentle reminder that He carries us through the hardest times. (P.S. – if your Bible is closed, God will feel distant)
5. It’s okay to grow slowly
   • I thought I had to become the perfect Christian overnight. I would get upset that I couldn’t quote scripture off the top of my head, and I didn’t (and still don’t) know all of the Bible. The reality is, I’m not a Bible scholar, and I don’t have to be. The simple fact that I love and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior is enough. Everyday I am learning how to walk more like Jesus, and when I inevitably fall short – He is waiting for me, saying, “It’s okay. We can walk together slowly.”

Walking with Jesus is a brave thing to do, especially in today’s world. And never once have I regretted my choice to surrender my life to Him. I have faced opposition, been challenged about why I believe in Him, felt judged for having my faith, but I would choose all of it – again and again – because Jesus truly is the way, the truth, and the life.

Amen? Amen.