This week marks 24 years since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

When I was twelve years old, my family moved to Georgia to help take care of my grandfather. During that time, we began attending my grandparents’ church. One Sunday, during a combined youth class, the youth pastor asked a simple question:

“If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity?”

I didn’t know.

When he asked those who weren’t sure to raise their hands, I did. Someone took the time to open God’s Word and explain the gospel to me. Before the morning worship service began, I bowed my head and accepted Christ as my Savior.

It was a quiet moment.

There were no fireworks.

No dramatic emotions.

Just a twelve year old girl realizing she needed a Savior.

At the time, I understood enough to know that Jesus died for my sins and that I needed Him.

What I didn’t understand was how much I had yet to learn about the God who had just changed my eternity.

Twenty four years later, I’m still learning.

One of the greatest lessons God has taught me is that He is good no matter what.

Those words are easy to say.

They’re much harder to understand.

Over the years, I’ve realized that many of the phrases we hear in church are absolutely true. I just hadn’t lived long enough to understand how deep they really were.

There have been seasons when I questioned His presence.

Not because I stopped believing in Him, but because I couldn’t understand what He was doing.

He was there through my parents’ divorce.

He was there through the loss of family members.

He was there through my own divorce.

He was there through broken friendships and relationships I never imagined would end.

He has been there through seasons of financial uncertainty and through times when our country felt anything but stable.

There were moments I cried out to Him with questions I couldn’t answer.

Looking back now, I can honestly say this:

He heard every one of them.

Not once did He leave.

I’ve also learned that my relationship with God isn’t confined to a quiet time in the morning.

Dedicated prayer is important, but some of my sweetest conversations with Him happen while I’m driving down the road, washing dishes, balancing books for a client, folding laundry, or rocking one of my girls to sleep.

He’s become the companion I talk to more than anyone else.

And there is something about opening His Word or singing an old hymn that brings a peace I can’t fully explain.

The circumstances don’t always change.

But my heart does.

God has shown Himself to be faithful.

Patient.

Merciful.

Just.

Holy.

Kind.

And always present.

If someone were to ask me what I’ve learned after twenty four years of following Christ, I don’t think I’d point to accomplishments or milestones.

I’d point to Him.

Because the greatest gift salvation gave me wasn’t simply the promise of heaven one day.

It was the privilege of walking with my Savior every day until I get there.

This week is a reminder of my spiritual birthday.

Not because I’ve lived a perfect Christian life.

Far from it.

But because twenty four years ago, God saved a twelve year old girl who had no idea what life would hold.

And through every joy, every loss, every question, and every answered prayer, He has proven Himself faithful.

Twenty four years later…

I’m still getting to know Him.