I am deeply grateful you have found your way here! The Bible identifies the collective group of Christ followers as the Church, but we function much like a family, so allow me to welcome you here as my brother or sister in Christ! Although we have likely never met, our mutual Savior and common faith provide us an immediate connection to one another, regardless of our backgrounds, cultures, or personalities. We could meet up in an aromatic coffee shop right now and have instant common ground from which to begin getting to know one another. I would be so eager to ask you how you came to know Jesus as your personal Savior. One of the most beautiful narratives on this side of heaven is the story of each person’s unique journey to Christ. I would savor every word of how you made your way to the humble place at the foot of the cross, even if it is a simple and short story that you perceive to be quite insignificant. On the contrary, it is a treasured journey, and it has only just begun!

For some of you, however, maybe the thought of having to articulate how you arrived at this new faith is a little overwhelming, and honestly quite fuzzy. You may still be trying to make sense of the Gospel, and you are here for clarity or confirmation of your faith. That is completely understandable and one of the exact reasons I began this blog – to provide biblical truth to the new believer about some of the most fundamental elements concerning your new faith. I hope over the course of these articles, you will gain further insight about exactly what you believe and how to live it out. For now, I would love to share with you my own story of grace – how I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior – so you will have some context for who I am and why I am so passionate about writing this content which hopefully meets you right at the beginning of your new faith journey.

My story of grace

Having been raised in a home that loosely acknowledged God but never really practiced religion, it wasn’t until age 19 that I first began pondering and seeking answers to questions I couldn’t even fully articulate at the time. I didn’t know exactly what I was searching for, other than some kind of purpose beyond what seemed to be the daily grind of adult living. I remember thinking, “Is this all there is to life? We show up every day to a job where we are constantly competing with one another for promotions and raises so we can go home to a nicer house than the next guy?” For me, having been entrenched in competitive environments while growing up as a pageant contestant, life had already been about endless comparisons and superficial meaning. Surely this wasn’t what the next 60+ years had in store for me, as well.

This discontentment led me to look beyond the physical realities and consider the spiritual element of life. Although I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for, I felt a deep nudge to attend church somewhere. I went one Sunday with a friend which is where I was awakened to my need for a savior and introduced to Jesus. Turns out, after all those prior years of comparisons, Jesus is the only person to whom I ever needed to compare myself, and even then, it is for the sole purpose of illuminating my sinful nature in contrast to his perfect righteousness. This proved to be a very humbling comparison; I could never measure up to his holy perfection. Such a sobering awareness would have left me in a hopeless state of permanent separation from God if it weren’t for what Jesus did on the cross (more about this in future posts). The good news of the Gospel – that even though I can’t enter heaven on my own merit, Jesus paid the price I couldn’t pay – led me straight to surrender. I don’t recall a specific date when I placed my faith in Jesus, but I do remember being in the privacy of my own bedroom and just going to God with the most basic and jumbled prayer, confessing that I am a sinner in need of Jesus as my Savior.

Surprisingly, it would be another four years before I was baptized. This delay was mostly due to my own ignorance concerning the meaning of baptism, and partly a result of my unwillingness to ask questions. Because I had asked Jesus to be Lord of my life in such a private way, no one knew to counsel me toward that next step of obedience – baptism. I had not really made my faith public. When my husband and I moved to another state, changing churches, those new relationships sparked conversation about my conversion story that exposed the gaps in my experience and obedience, resulting in me being counseled toward finally making my faith public through baptism. Although I had attended church with my husband for the previous 3 years and fellowshipped with some truly great people in our home church, it wasn’t until we moved out of state (and outside of my comfort zone) that my faith really took root and began to grow strong.

The heart of Square One

Over the years, as God has continued to refine me and grow my faith, I have never forgotten about those early days as a Christian, and the obstacles that kept me from operating with clarity about my relationship with the Lord. One of the reasons I deeply desired to develop this blog was to offer up a resource I wish I would have had in the beginning of my journey with Jesus. Please know, however, that this site is intended to serve as only a helpful source of information. While that is a valuable part of the learning process as you grab hold of this new faith, having a community of believers around you, and particularly a personal mentor, is a critical aspect of your growth as a Christian. I beg of you to use this tool as a resource to grow you toward God and toward other believers, not as a crutch that allows you to isolate from them. Find a church you can call “home” and plug in there. (Look for my upcoming my post on “How to Find a Healthy Church” if you need guidance on that!)

In my now 31 years of being a Christian, God has been so faithful to continually reveal more about His character to me. It is mind-blowing to think the God of the universe actually wants to be known by those He created. Enjoy the slowly unfolding revelation of God’s character that is guaranteed to each believer who seeks Him. I am humbled to have the opportunity to help guide you along this incredible discovery. I am honored you are here!

In Christ,
Bridget Youngblood