One year ago today, I stepped into the water and made the most important decision of my life. I publicly declared that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I’ll never forget the feeling – the nerves, the excitement, the overwhelming sense of God’s presence as I emerged from the water. It was holy, beautiful, and life-changing.

But here’s something I didn’t expect: the next morning, I woke up and realized… I’m still me. I still had the same struggles, the same temptations, the same messy emotions. I didn’t expect to be speaking in tongues, but I just thought I would feel different. I had this thought of, “I’m baptized, now what?”

I assumed that baptism was the finish line. You accept Jesus, you get baptized, and then you’re saved for all eternity, right? What I’ve learned in a year of salvation is that baptism isn’t the finish line – it’s only the beginning.

I’ve learned that following Jesus is less about the big moments, and more about the small, daily choices. It’s opening my Bible even when I don’t “feel like it”. It’s praying for the small things as much as I pray for the big things. It’s dying to my old self, picking up my cross, and trusting that God’s grace is bigger than my shame.

If you had asked me a year ago what I thought baptism would change, I might have said “everything.” And yes in a way, it has. But the surprises I didn’t see coming are so much greater than stepping into the baptism pool. It’s the beauty of obedience to God – and how He shows up in the quiet moments of faithfulness. It’s fully surrendering myself to Him – and seeing the work He does in me. And it’s understanding that following Jesus didn’t magically make my life easier – it’s knowing that because of my faith in Him, I have an unshakable foundation that gives me hope through the hard times.

If you’re newly baptized or considering it, here’s the best advice I can give you – baptism is not a graduation, it’s an invitation. It’s the beginning of a lifetime of walking with Jesus. Being baptized doesn’t mean you’re immune from heartache or grief or hardship, but it does mean that you’ll never have to go through those things alone ever again, because Jesus carries you in those moments. Baptism is the outward sign of an inward reality: that you are made new. Now, the rest of your life is God’s story of continuing to shape you into who He created you to be.

As I celebrate one year since my baptism, I’m still amazed by God’s faithfulness. He has carried me, challenged me, stretched me, and reminded me over and over that His grace is enough. I can proudly say that I am not the same girl that went under the water a year ago.

And the best part? He’s still working on me.

If you’ve ever wondered, “I’m baptized – now what?” – the answer is simple: keep choosing Jesus. Every. Single. Day.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away: behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17