Jeff’s Story

I grew up in a suburban town in Southern Louisiana with my mother, stepfather, and two older brothers. I consider myself lucky for the loving home that I grew up in. Like most people in Southern Louisiana, we were raised in a Catholic family. I would have considered us lukewarm Catholics that typically attended services a handful of times a year. I eventually completed catechism while in middle school. However, I was merely checking boxes and attending classes to keep the peace with my mother. I lacked the desire to learn or apply the lessons that I was hearing. Most importantly, I never developed a relationship with Jesus.

I was left to my own devices once I entered college and left any ideas of a God in the rearview mirror.  I was strictly living for pleasure. Parties and nights out were what I looked forward to once the headache from the previous night began to fade. I was in search for anything that could fill the emptiness and lack of purpose that I was experiencing in my life. Once I realized that my carefree lifestyle was unfulfilling, I flipped my world on its head and joined the Army. The results of the structure and discipline were the same as in my previous life. I was still searching for the reason of my existence. 

In 2001 at the age of 25, a friend suggested that I visit a local Christian church.  Feeling like I was at rock bottom left me open to the idea that there was something bigger in this world than myself. Visiting the local church opened my eyes to what I had been missing in my life. I was told about the life-changing story of Jesus and his sacrifice for me. The fact that He lived a perfect life and loved me enough to sacrifice Himself on a cross for the things that I had done, showed me the true meaning of love. I tore into His word looking to learn as much as I could. Everything I read led me to the same conclusion; if I truly wanted to live a fulfilling and purposeful life, I had to surrender myself to Him. I had spent years proving to myself that I could not live the life I was meant to live apart from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now it was time to put my trust in Him.

There is no greater peace than the understanding that God is in control. I still have struggles, but Philippians 4:13 promises: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  I used to believe that following Jesus meant that I couldn’t do the things that I wanted to do. I now know that I just no longer desire to do the things I once did. My life’s purpose is to glorify God in all that I do.  I try to accomplish this by loving others because He first loved me.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”