Relationship Over Religion

Before Christ

I grew up in a Christian home, went to church Sundays/Wednesdays, attended camps, revivals, mission trips, etc. I was a GOOD person….on the outside. But I was a fake. In high school at the height of the Jesus Movement, I met some REAL Christians and saw God miraculously save drug addicts and turn their lives around. They were different than me. I saw joy in them. I was empty on the inside. I tried SOoooo hard to be good and do all the right things.

How I Met Jesus

In my Sr year in high school, I went on a weekend mission trip and was “sharing” the gospel with a high school student. In the end, he asked me “What makes you any different than me?” It pierced my soul because I didn’t have an answer. When I got home I went into a room and cried and told God I was tired of trying so hard and feeling empty. I begged him to show me what I was doing wrong. At that moment I looked out the window and the streetlight showed through the screen and all I saw was a cross. At that moment I saw my worthless self before God and KNEW my only worth was in Christ alone. I fully understood that He died for all the bad thoughts and things I had done. It was ALL Him, and there was NOTHING I could do to be “good enough”. I told Him that day that my life was His and I trusted Him and Him alone as my Savior.

My Life After

I wasn’t going to tell anyone because I was embarrassed I had been faking it so long. But during the next week, NUMEROUS people asked me for no reason “What’s different about you?” So I shared it with my parents, friends, anyone who’d listen. I once was lost, now I’m saved. Since that day I have loved my church families, loved serving, loved people, loved studying God’s Word, trusted God with every part of my life-good/bad, happy/sad.

My Hope

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭

 

Janis Burdett
September 16, 2021