Faithful Writers

I have a spectacular verbal rebrand that is going to confuse a few and probably annoy others when I say this:  1st and 2nd Testament I have made it clear many times that I don’t believe that once the “New” Testament came around, God kicked the “Old” to the curb.  People made that word distinction, not God. Honestly, though, I get the reasoning behind it; it does make sense simply from a distinction standpoint. But come on. You can’t expect people to do something and not figure that satan’s going to find some way to exploit it to his advantage. Out with the old, in with the new should honestly be satan’s motto at this point. Especially with the way people, Christian and non alike, are attacking the Old  Testament. Satan couldn’t have planned anything better if he tried, and he doesn’t have to; all he has to do is sit back and let people — well, be people. Here’s a good question:  Why do  we still call it the Old  Testament anyway? Why label it like it’s some dusty irrelevant relic, a “before” to something better? It’s misleading. It makes people think God suddenly decided to change. And calling the other the New  Testament? That makes it sound separate, shinier, less serious, and like a replacement. Let me point something out: 1st & 2nd Samuel 1st & 2nd Kings 1st & 2nd Chronicles 1st & 2nd Corinthians 1st & 2nd Thessalonians 1st & 2nd Timothy 1st & 2nd Peter 1st, 2nd & 3rd John Couldn’t have any of those  2nd’s  (or that random 3rd) without any of those 1st’s , otherwise that would make for a very odd read.  And no, word counts don’t apply here, and neither do writing styles, message, theme, time period, writer, etc, because the Bible is a very eclectic collection of inspired works, chosen by God, guided by God, and approved by God. It’s so eclectic you wouldn’t win any of those arguments. Here’s a thought: Maybe it’s high time we start calling them the 1st Testament and 2nd Testament.  Not just for kicks — there’s a precedent. We already have 1st and 2nd editions. Nobody is debating those. Everyone understands they’re sequential, chronological, and part of the same ongoing message to us. Nothing about that changes God’s character, story, or His message. Calling them 1st and 2nd Testaments keeps that continuity intact, puts God’s revelation in order, and then slows satan down from twisting things as easily. Because people would stop seeing the Old  Testament (especially the laws he’s trying to tear down) as irrelevant. It also pulls the plug on this whole “selective Christianity” BS. You know, the whole “I only follow the God of love”  nonsense.  That stops being funny when you realize you just tossed half of God aside because it made you uncomfortable. The case for 1st and 2nd: The 1st Testament sets the stage, the 2nd Testament reveals the actor.  The Law is the backdrop, Christ is the spotlight.  The prophets were the previews, Jesus is the feature.  The promises were written in ink, the fulfillment was spilled in blood. You don’t get the Messiah without Moses.  You don’t get the cross without the covenant.  And you definitely don’t get Revelation’s victory without Genesis’s beginning. Consider this with seriousness (at least the concept) because your life very well could depend on how much God you decide to chop out of your opinions. This article is inspired by God our Father and Medium writer, Richoka . © Jane Isley

Bing AI There’s something profoundly moving about the phrase “Abraham, God’s friend.” It’s not just a title, it’s a description of a life deeply intertwined with God’s heart. Abraham didn’t just serve God; he walked with Him. He laughed, questioned, trusted, and followed. And through it all, something beautiful formed, which was friendship . The Friendship Wasn’t One-Sided When we think about knowing God, we often imagine reverence, worship, and obedience, all of which are true and necessary. But Abraham’s story teaches us that friendship with God is not just about doing for Him, it’s about being with Him. “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” — Genesis 18:17 God didn’t hide things from Abraham. He said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Genesis 18:17). That’s what friends do; they share secrets, plans, and burdens. Abraham wasn’t perfect. He doubted, feared, and even made mistakes, but friendship with God isn’t reserved for the flawless; it’s reserved for the faithful. Those who keep showing up, even when they don’t understand everything. The Friendship That Grew From Trust Every friendship deepens through trust, and for Abraham, that trust was repeatedly tested. When God asked him to leave his home without a clear destination, he obeyed. When God promised a son long after it seemed possible, Abraham believed. And when God asked for Isaac, the promise itself. Abraham didn’t hesitate, because by then, he had learned something we often miss, which is the fact then when you know God’s heart, you stop fearing His instructions. It’s easy to serve a God you fear, but it takes intimacy to obey a God you trust. That’s why James 2:23 says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called a friend of God.” His belief wasn’t passive; it was active trust. God Still Invites Us The most stunning truth is that the same friendship is still available to us. Jesus said in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, I have called you friends.” God doesn’t just want worshipers who admire Him from afar. He desires friends who walk with Him daily who share silence, laughter, questions, and trust. To be God’s friend means to let Him into your ordinary days, not just your holy moments. It’s hearing His whispers in your chaos, and learning that His presence isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s gentle and near, like a heartbeat beside yours. Friendship with God is that confidence that says, “Even when I don’t know what You’re doing, I know who You are.” And I dare to say that’s what Abraham knew. He knew that knowing God is not about having all the answers. It’s about walking close enough to trust the One who does. © Favour

Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash People crave validation. They want to be loved, accepted, and affirmed. That’s natural. I get it. And much of the criticism (indeed hate) directed against Christians and churches these days is due to people not being sufficiently loved or (in their minds) accepted or affirmed. In previous articles, I’ve repudiated all churches and church leaders guilty of abuse, toxicity, or callousness. I stand by that. Nevertheless… When it comes to whether a church makes you feel good… Here’s a hard truth… It’s not the role of the church to affirm or validate you. The purpose of the church, at least according to Jesus, is to disciple you. Before we get into what Jesus said, let’s talk common sense here. Religion, by its nature, is…to some extent…exclusive and discriminatory. Now, don’t get all triggered or reactive or bent out of shape. Take a breath and let’s look at this logically. I’m not talking about discriminating against people based on color, race, nationality, or anything like that. To be clear, count me among those who support civil rights for all — including those who don’t subscribe to a religious faith. I repudiate all forms of hate and bigotry. I believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Okay? That said, religion (by its nature) involves beliefs and behaviors. It involves people orienting their lives toward the divine. That means that, while some religions may be more inclusive than others, all religions believe their take on spirituality is superior to any other take that disagrees with or counters their take. This is the case with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Jainism, New Age Spirituality, and so forth. No offense to those religious faiths not mentioned. All religions have a take or point of view, no matter how broad. When you approach a particular religion, your sense of reality or your take on spirituality might conflict with the majority of adherents of that particular religion. And guess what? That’s okay. If you don’t think it’s okay, then I want to very respectfully say… Get over yourself! It’s not the responsibility of other people or communities (religious or otherwise) to automatically validate your beliefs, choices, or even self-proclaimed identity. The world does NOT revolve around you! If you believe the world and everyone in it should revolve around you, that makes you every bit as problematic and perhaps dangerous as the most extreme religious fundamentalist. Let’s hope we’re clear on that. If not, go back and re-read this article up until this point until you are clear. Okay? Now…let’s get back to Jesus… Following Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus said these words to His disciples… And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18–20, KJV) According to the King James rendering of Jesus’ “Great Commission,” Jesus said His disciples are to teach “all nations” (that’s all people groups) about Himself (that’s evangelism), then (when they accept), baptize them, and then…teach those who have accepted Christ and been baptized to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” In other words, teach them what He (Jesus) taught the disciples. That’s discipleship. In fact, most contemporary English translations make this clear, quoting Jesus as saying to “make disciples” of all the nations (or people groups). The church doesn’t exist to automatically validate you and/or help you self-actualize (to use Maslow’s term). It exists to make disciples of Jesus. Does that mean you should be required to join a church and be “discipled”? Absolutely not! Like I’ve said numerous times…I believe in religious freedom. No one should be forced to join a church. And no government should impose religious orthodoxy on its citizens. But if you’re going to voluntarily unite with a Christian church, don’t complain when that church disagrees with you or encourages you to follow Jesus instead of your own heart or wishes. Such a church may make you uncomfortable, but it’s doing its job. © Brian Tubbs First Published in Faith Renewed on Medium Thank you for reading! ✍️ You can follow me on Medium for more📖 Check out my latest book: Thou Shalt Not Kill: The Ancient Commandment We Dare Not Break

ChatGPT There is a common stereotype that the Bible does not represent women enough, and it barely has any women in it to start with. I once believed this before I followed Jesus, and as I began to read Scripture, I realized it was a complete lie. There are so many powerful stories of women in the Bible, and all of them bring me joy as I read them. Knowing that these women endured in faithfulness during the toughest parts of their lives is a wake-up call to all women that God loves and cherishes us as His own daughters. We are important and worthy to Him. Below, I will share a couple of women from the Bible and the lessons we can learn from them. There are many more that can be covered, so look out for a part 2! Ruth: Ruth is one of the two women in the Bible who has a book named after her. I know that number can seem disappointing to many, but let us not be discouraged by that. In the discourse of things, we know that women are still represented in the Bible, no matter what. If you haven’t read the book, I encourage you to read it. Ruth, a recent widow, leaves everything behind and follows her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem after her husband dies. Initially, Naomi refuses to let Ruth follow her, but Ruth responds with the following words: “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16–17). How moving is that? After suffering a terrible loss, Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law behind, showing her complete loyalty. As Ruth and Naomi settle into Bethlehem, Ruth works in a field to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. Through this loyalty, she earns the respect of a man named Boaz, who turns out to be a distant relative of Naomi. Boaz recognizes her incredible devotion and says, “May the Lord reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, to whom you have come for protection” (Ruth 2:12). Despite her circumstances, Ruth puts her best foot forward. Through this, she captures the attention of a godly man and receives God’s blessings. Eventually, Ruth and Boaz get married, and they have a child named Obed. Obed becomes the Grandfather of David, who is an ancestor to Jesus Himself. Through Ruth’s devotion to the Lord, she was blessed with an equally devoted husband and, many years later, an even more devoted relative. Ruth shows us how pure devotion to the Lord leads to new doors being opened, allowing us to bask in His light. You never know what might happen if you stop following the world and start following Jesus. Deborah: During the chaotic times of the Judges, a prophetess named Deborah served as a judge for the Israelites (Judges 4:4). Deborah would sit under a palm tree, and the people of Israel would listen to her decisions. One day, a military leader named Barak was sent by her, and she told him that he would have victory if he defeated their oppressors. Barak responded with, “I will go if you go with me, but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go either” (Judges 4:8). The amount of faith he had in God was clear, as he completely trusted Deborah’s prophecy. Deborah agreed to his inquiry and fiercely responded with, “All right, I will go with you, but you won’t get any credit for the victory, because the Lord will hand Sisera (Canaanite military commander) over to a woman” (Judges 4:9). (She wasn’t talking about herself; Sisera was killed by another woman named Jael). Afterward, Barak agreed to her command with no hesitation and defeated Sisera’s army. In a time of struggle, Deborah was like a mother to Israel, consulting with and leading its people. She was a beacon of light in the dark time of Judges, sent by God to rescue Israel from oppression. Even though the Israelites had sinned, God still loved His children and welcomed them back to Him through Deborah. Deborah sets an example for women to follow their gifts that the Lord has blessed them with. Deborah was gifted with prophecy, and each of us also has a spiritual gift. It is our job to use it with authority, complete loyalty, and gentleness as she did. The Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Cloak: While unnamed in the Bible, this woman has a powerful impact on Jesus and His ministry. This woman had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years, which made her ritually unclean and seen as a burden. Can you imagine that? How terrible and painful would that be, along with the judgmental stares of passersby as you deal with your condition? I can’t even imagine the pain that she went through for twelve years! However, through all her pain, this woman still had faith. She had heard about Jesus beforehand and all of the miracles he was performing. Because of this, she believed that He could also heal her. When Jesus was passing nearby to heal a Jewish official’s daughter, she reached out and touched his cloak. “If only I touch his cloak, I will get well” (Matthew 9:21). This woman had such great faith that she believed a single touch of his clothing would heal her. She didn’t even need to speak to Him or see His face; all she needed to do was grab a piece of his cloak. Jesus turned around to her and said, “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22). At that moment, she was healed of her condition. Her immense faith in Jesus allowed her to be healed, and it also set an example for the citizens surrounding the scene. It can also set an example for sisters in Christ that we must hold firm in our faith and endure. We are His daughters. He has made a place for each of us in Heaven. Therefore, we must trust in Him. Although I only wrote about three of the women in the Bible, there are many more honorable mentions. Esther, the woman at the well, Joanna, Leah, Rachel, Sarah, Jael, Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, sister of Lazarus (many Marys!), Martha, Rhoda, etc. I could keep going, but I hope you learned something from this article and that it changed your stereotypes about women in the Bible. The enemy loves to make up lies that women aren’t important in Christianity, but they certainly are. Simply reading Scripture itself proves him to be dead wrong. Comment below on a woman of the Bible that you are inspired by and why! I am curious to hear from each of you! © Sienna Krieg

Maybe you thought faith would fix you, that once you found God, all the cracks in your soul would close, the loneliness would fade, and peace would come easily. You believed that saying yes to Him meant your heart would finally stop aching. But maybe that hasn’t happened. Some mornings, the heaviness still lingers. The prayers feel forced. The peace feels far. You look in the mirror and wonder why healing still feels unfinished. And sometimes that guilt creeps in, because how can you believe in a God who restores, yet still feel undone? The Shame of Still Hurting You’re not alone in that thought. Many people quietly believe that feeling broken means their faith isn’t strong enough. So they try to pray it away, worship it away, or hide it behind smiles and verses. But hiding pain never makes it holy; it only buries it under the weight of shame. Then, somewhere in Scripture, there’s this gentle reminder: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” – Isaiah 42:3 Also, meditate on this: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 Let that sink in. God doesn’t throw away what’s bruised; He breathes on what’s barely burning. The God Who Sits With the Broken He’s not waiting for you to be whole before He holds you. He doesn’t turn away from the weak or ashamed. He draws near to the ones barely standing, the ones who whisper prayers between tears. Faith was never about pretending strength. It’s about showing up, trembling but trusting, and believing that He’s still enough. Even when life feels scattered in pieces, He sits right there among them, ever patient, present, and gentle. You’re Broken, But Not Abandoned Feeling broken doesn’t mean your faith has failed. It simply means you’re human, still being shaped, still being loved in process. Maybe that’s where true faith lives: in the raw, unpolished places where grace finally gets to breathe. So stop asking God to erase the cracks, ask Him to fill them with light instead, because every scar you’ve tried to hide can become a space where His love shines through. It’s a quiet proof that healing isn’t about perfection but about presence. And even when you still feel broken, you’re not forgotten. You’re being remade — slowly, softly, and honestly by the One who never stopped calling you His. A Little Note For You This piece is the beginning of a small series I’m creating for anyone who believes but still battles the ache inside. Each continuation will touch another layer of what it means to heal while believing: the waiting involved, the weariness, and also the hope that still rises. If your heart needs space to heal in faith, stay with me. We’ll walk through this, one truth at a time. © Favour

Photo by Dev Asangbam on Unsplash I know you’ve asked yourself that question more times than you’ll ever admit. In the mirror, after a loss, when someone overlooked you again, when you gave your all, and it still wasn’t enough. It’s a question that haunts achievers and dreamers alike…”Am I enough?” Enough to be loved? Enough to be chosen? Enough to be celebrated? We dress it up with confidence, drown it out with distractions, or bury it beneath work, but it keeps resurfacing. Every time we scroll through someone else’s highlight reel, success suddenly seems to be slow, and we begin to feel unseen. The harsh reality is that that question isn’t innocent. It’s a thief!! It steals your joy, your peace, and your ability to see your own worth. It makes you chase validation that was never meant to define you. The Silent Standard That’s Draining You Our world constantly measures worth in terms of followers, beauty, and wins. You could have ten compliments and still obsess over the one person who didn’t clap. You could be doing better than you were last year and still feel like you’re losing. Why? Because comparison doesn’t let you rest,  it keeps saying, “Do more, be more, prove more.” But no matter how much you achieve, it will always shift the finish line, and it’s like running on a treadmill that never stops until you’re breathless, empty, and wondering why joy feels so far away. You Were Never Supposed to Earn Enoughness Somewhere along the way, we learned to treat worth like a reward… If I succeed, I’m enough. If they love me back, I’m enough. If everything goes right, I’m enough. But being enough was never something to achieve; it was something to accept. Scripture says: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14 You were designed in divine confidence. You are already God’s masterpiece and not a mistake that needs constant fixing, but a creation that’s unfolding beautifully in time. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” – Ephesians 2:10 You don’t need to prove your value to people who only see fragments of your story. Your worth was settled long before anyone had an opinion. You are enough, not because the world says so, but because you were created with intention. Your existence is proof that you were meant to carry light in this world, even if you’re still learning how to shine it. The Moment You Stop Chasing Freedom begins when you stop chasing “enough” and start embracing who you already are. It’s not about pretending everything’s fine; it’s about deciding that your worth isn’t up for debate. You start to walk differently when you stop performing for approval. You start to breathe again when you realize that you’re not behind, you’re becoming. Growth takes time, healing takes time, too, but when we speak of identity? That’s settled. You are already enough. Not a work in progress, trying to qualify, but a soul unfolding into its fullness. A Reminder for Every Time You Forget When the doubt creeps in, remember this: You are not the sum of your likes, your losses, or your lapses. Those don’t do you for a single second You are a story still being written, and so no single moment defines you. You were never meant to be totally perfect; you just need to be present. So today, I need you to stop asking if you’re enough. Start asking if you’re being true. Because when you live from truth, “enough” stops being a question and starts being who you are. If this spoke to you, take a moment today to pause and breathe. You don’t have to earn your worth. You already are enough. Drop a thought in the comments and tell me one truth you’re choosing to believe about yourself again. Take This With You Stop letting the lie of “not enough” run your life. That’s the devil. Stand up and reclaim your voice. You owe it to yourself and to the One who made you to live like you already are what you’ve been chasing. © Favou r

unsplash Time is linear for us. God set it that way from the very beginning for us, days, weeks, years, etc. People live inside those boundaries. But God?He lives outside of them.He is the Author of time, not bound by it. Then God reshaped the way I see prayer. This used to happen often to me, and I think many people can relate.  I’d be scrolling online, where you don’t usually see or hear updates. I’d see a prayer request and stop to lift them up to God. Then I’d notice it was posted a day or so ago, sometimes even longer. I used to feel bad and think that I was too late. I mean, I’d really, really feel bad about it, like I wasn’t there when they needed it the most. Then one random day, it happened again, and I about spiraled myself down that path of feeling bad all over again. The thought in my head was, if I prayed now, what was the point? I was already too late. Now I’ve come to realize satan was using that. God spoke and said, “Not with Me” I’m not gonna lie. That answer actually took me a little to figure out what He meant, but I did eventually figure it out. lol First, no thought you have should ever stop you from praying to begin with. Period.  That was one thing I figured out right quickly. I was letting myself talk myself out of praying, and satan was having a heyday with that. Second, as I said above, God is literally outside of time. He is not bound by our past, present, or future. To Him there is no such thing as too late. Every prayer is a connected one-on-one private moment with Him. Now we may never know the outcome of our prayer, and sometimes we do, but prayer isn’t just for that person or situation. It’s for you to. You don’t build trust, faith, and hope on silent lips.  But you can sure lose it on silent lips. Every prayer is heard at exactly the right moment, for the right reason. When we pray, even if we  think it‘s too late, God receives it outside of our timeline and applies it with His perfect timing and for His glory. So don’t hold back. Don’t second-guess.  Pray anyway. Because with God, every prayer is on time. “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”  2 Peter 3:8 © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

Hey, I’m Favour and I’m faith-filled, always writing about real things like God, growth, and grace. I believe faith isn’t just a Sunday thingy, it’s actually a life, laughter, and the little moments that remind us we’re still held. If my words make you pause, smile, or whisper “same,” then I’ve done my job and I look forward to connecting more and meeting more needs too. FavourWrites Facebook

Photo by Luke Mollet  on Unsplash The cross should not inspire comfort. It was never designed for that. Rome used crucifixion to break people — body, mind, and spirit. It was a billboard of domination, a slow death by suffocation and shame, reserved for slaves, rebels, and anyone who dared to challenge the empire. Bodies were nailed up at city gates to remind passers-by who was in charge. It was so degrading that self-respecting Romans avoided even mentioning the word “cross” in polite conversation. And not only in ancient Rome. In 2015, ISIS fighters crucified victims in Syria, leaving their bodies on display in the streets. The message was the same as it had been two thousand years earlier: this is what happens when the powerful want to crush the weak. The cross is history’s symbol of oppression. So why do millions of people now wear it proudly around their necks? Rome’s Weapon of Terror Crucifixion was Rome’s propaganda made flesh. It wasn’t simply about killing. It was about humiliating. Naked bodies, jeering crowds, hours or days of suffering — all staged for maximum psychological impact. It told the world: the strong define truth, the weak are disposable. That’s why, to the first-century mind, the Christian claim that a crucified man was Lord of the world was sheer madness. Historian Tom Holland puts it starkly: “This is why the cross, that ancient implement of torture, remains what it has always been: the fitting symbol of the Christian revolution.” — Tom Holland, Dominion A Strange Turning Point Against all odds, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth didn’t bury their shame in silence. They proclaimed it. The very instrument of terror became their banner. Why? Because they believed something had happened that Rome never intended: Jesus’ crucifixion was not the beginning of God’s story, but the turning point. What looked like defeat was, in fact, victory. Rome stripped Jesus of dignity; he forgave his executioners. Rome broke his body; God raised him from the dead. The empire thought it had spoken the last word in blood and wood. But the Word — the one through whom all things were made — spoke back through resurrection. The Cross After Rome Once Jesus reframed the cross, it could no longer be used in the same way. Christians began to live as though every person mattered equally before God. They rescued abandoned infants, cared for plague victims, and eventually built the first hospitals. Even the long road toward abolishing slavery drew energy from this belief: that the God who hung on a cross dignified the lowliest of human beings. What had been a weapon of terror became a wellspring of hope. Why It Still Matters The cross is still offensive today, not because it’s violent, but because it redefines strength. Our culture prizes winning, dominance, and visibility. The cross insists that true power is found in self-giving love. That’s why it endures. That’s why it’s worn not as a warning but as a sign of hope. What the empire used to crush, the Word transformed into a declaration: even in weakness, God’s power wins. So here’s the question: If the cross really does flip oppression into freedom, what would it mean for us to live by that kind of power today? I write about the strange, surprising ways faith reshapes our world. If you’d like to know more about why I write, you can visit my About Me page. © Nathan Cole Originally published on Medium .

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. My parents were loving and kind, but I didn’t know Jesus, and I didn’t know the good news of the Gospel. By the grace of God, that began to change in my first year at university. An Unexpected Invitation I still remember standing awkwardly at orientation on day one when a friendly student walked up and invited me to the Christian group on campus. We had a few mutual connections. I thought I had a rough idea of what a “Christian group” might be. It felt harmless to say yes. Why not have a look? What happened next surprised me. They opened the Bible. That might sound obvious, but it wasn’t to me. I had barely seen a Bible, and I’d never read one. Watching a group of students quietly open those thin pages felt strange, almost novel – like stepping into a room I didn’t know existed. No hype. No hard sell. Just words on a page – and people who seemed to care about them. Through the group, I started reading the Bible for myself. I didn’t suddenly understand everything. I asked basic questions. I held my doubts in one hand and the text in the other. But the more I read, the more a single figure came into focus: Jesus. I began to see that Christianity wasn’t mainly about becoming “better” or earning spiritual points. It was about a person and a cross – about what God had done, not what I could do. That realization unsettled me in the best way. When the Cross Stopped Being Abstract As I kept reading, something clearer – and weightier – landed. If the Gospel really is true… If Jesus really did die… If the cross is God’s way of dealing with sin – even mine – then this isn’t a set of ideas to admire from a distance. It demands a response. Not pressure, not panic – just the honesty of facing a gift I couldn’t pay back and a mercy I couldn’t earn. A few months later, at an Easter event on campus, the pieces came together. I believed in Jesus Christ. I accepted that forgiveness of sin is only possible through his cross. And I decided I wanted to follow Him. There wasn’t a spotlight or a dramatic soundtrack. Just a quiet “yes” that felt like the most honest thing I’d ever said. What Changed (and What Didn’t) Not everything became easy. Life didn’t suddenly arrange itself into neat lines. But something essential shifted. I wasn’t standing outside anymore, looking in. I belonged to the One I’d been reading about. The questions didn’t disappear; they became part of a conversation with Someone real. I kept reading the Bible. I learned to pray in plain words. I found myself wanting to know Jesus, not just know about him. Grace turned belief into a path I could actually walk. I never expected to meet Jesus at university. I never expected an invitation in an orientation line to change my direction. But that is the beauty of grace: it meets us before we know how to look for it. If you find yourself where I was – curious, uncertain, a little surprised – open a Bible. Ask your real questions. See what the cross means, not in theory, but for you. I did. And it changed everything. © Nathan Cole Originally published on Medium .