With Christmas approaching, I felt it was the perfect time to introduce a topic some may feel uneasy about or even called out for. During this season, our focus often shifts to God, Advent, and the birth of Jesus. We might feel drawn—or even pressured—to strengthen our relationship with God. But once Christmas is over, many of us slip back into old patterns until Easter, repeating the cycle.
This article is different from my usual work, but I feel God placed it on my heart to inspire or guide someone back to Christ. At Stuart, we respect, acknowledge, and love all religions and those who don’t believe in a higher power. As a Christian, I don’t believe any religion overshadows another. However, this is my personal faith story, and I hope it resonates with someone.
My Journey to Faith
My faith journey began as a baby, being baptized and completing my sacraments—not because I chose to, but because it was part of my family’s Catholic tradition. For years, I struggled to feel connected to God. Faith felt like a family-influenced decision rather than a personal one.
As I grew older and faced the ups and downs of life, I started to lean on God instead of relying solely on myself. Before this, I felt I had to handle everything alone because I didn’t think I was worthy of love—not from myself, others, or even God.
Reading my Bible changed everything. I realized those feelings of unworthiness were lies planted by the enemy, feeding off insecurities I already had. For instance, if I doubted my confidence, the enemy would amplify those thoughts, making me feel inadequate compared to others.
As difficult as it is to admit, we all battle thoughts like these. The truth is, the journey to or back to God isn’t easy—it takes trust, patience, and perseverance. But the peace and joy found in Him are worth so much more than the fleeting happiness the world offers.
A Verse to Hold Onto
During difficult times, I often reflect on this verse:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
It reminds me that no matter how far I feel from God, He is always there, waiting with open arms. His love for us is immeasurable and unconditional.
A Call to Action
Let’s aim to be more than two-day-a-year Christians. Let’s strive for a year-round relationship with God. I promise you, the Jesus glow is so real.
So if you’re struggling or don’t know where to start, please reach out, I am always here to talk and below is a link to a guide for living for Jesus again. I hope you enjoy the holidays and remember that there’s so much more to this season than gifts, though gifts are great too!
