I grew up in a Lutheran home where church was a regular part of life. We went every Sunday and were involved in whatever was going on. Anytime there was an activity or event, we were there. I was also one of those “good” kids who got good grades and didn’t get into trouble, which made me think I was a good person—especially when I compared myself to others. I didn’t really think about whether I was a sinner or not. After high school, I went to college and wanted to fit in, so I did whatever everyone else was doing. I occasionally had a few drinks at parties, but because I wasn’t getting drunk every weekend like many students, I still thought I was a good person. Going to church never crossed my mind, since no one else was doing that. Looking back, it was clear that I was a sinner in need of salvation, but at the time I still thought I was fine.

After college, I entered the workforce and began living on my own. That’s when the Lord started nudging me back to Him. I realized I should return to church, so I went back to the Lutheran church, since that was what I knew and felt comfortable with. But I started to feel that something was missing. While searching for what that was, I was invited to a singles’ Bible study in the small town where I lived. The couple leading it was also working to start a Baptist church. Through that Bible study, I learned things about God and the Bible I had never heard before, and I began to understand that God created me for a relationship with Him. When the Baptist church started, I left the Lutheran church and began hearing more Bible-based preaching there.

After marrying my husband, we moved to Sundance, Wyoming, where we looked for the right church. The Lord led us to a Baptist church where we felt at home. I mentally agreed with the gospel and studied verses like Romans 3:23—“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”—and Romans 5:8, which says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I memorized many verses and thought that meant I was saved. But I lacked peace and often wondered if I was truly saved. I compared myself to others rather than God’s perfect standard, and I wasn’t experiencing true spiritual growth.

Finally, on April 14, 2019, during a message, the Lord revealed to me that I had never truly repented of my sins. I still wanted to keep control of certain areas of my life and wasn’t surrendering everything to Him. That day, I repented and asked the Lord to save me, realizing I was a sinner in need of salvation as described in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” I finally understood that I was not good, because no sinner is good, and only Christ could save me. Oh, what peace I found that day! Since then, I have clung to Proverbs 3:5-7 as my life verses: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” These verses continually remind me to trust the Lord daily and rely on Him rather than my own understanding.