How I found religion

Chris

Administrator
Staff Member
Ride of the Month Winner
Joined
Sep 28, 2015
Messages
70,955
Location
Florence, AZ
All my life I have been a non-religious person. In fact, I would have even considered myself an atheist. I spent my entire life thinking there was no higher power. About 6 months ago after moving to Arizona we started taking the kids to a youth group at church where they made a lot of friends, but I also made a lot of friends myself. I started staying for the services with the kids and my life changed.

I don't know how to explain it and I never will, but one night I went to bed and dreamt. I can't remember my dream but I remember waking up and feeling entirely changed, like a whole new person, but entirely for the better. I recognized all of my past faults, all the things I had done wrong to others, etc. My wife at the time said to me, "you are acting totally different".

I tried to explain it to her that I think god had spoken to me. She told me I was crazy and that I had never been religious whatsoever in my life. I told her she is right, but I feel like I've seen the light now. To this day (and it hasn't even been that long) I still feel the same way and I truly feel like I've been "awaken" for lack of a better word. I honestly can't explain it but I feel like I have this amazing relationship with the lord that I never had before.

To someone who isn't religious (which was me before) this sounds nuts. It sounds like I drank the Kool-Aid and I totally get that. Religion isn't for everyone, in fact, it wasn't for me before, not one bit.

I just wanted to share a story from someone who was the biggest atheist imaginable. I don't know what happened to me but if I had to guess, I found god.
 
I’m actually someone who is currently where you were at ~6 months ago. It’s not that I don’t want to believe in a higher power, I just have a hard time right now. Maybe someday it’ll change for me too. I kind of hope it does.
 
I’m actually someone who is currently where you were at ~6 months ago. It’s not that I don’t want to believe in a higher power, I just have a hard time right now. Maybe someday it’ll change for me too. I kind of hope it does.
I hope so too. I never would have guessed I would end up here but something really happened inside me.
 
All my life I have been a non-religious person. In fact, I would have even considered myself an atheist. I spent my entire life thinking there was no higher power. About 6 months ago after moving to Arizona we started taking the kids to a youth group at church where they made a lot of friends, but I also made a lot of friends myself. I started staying for the services with the kids and my life changed.

I don't know how to explain it and I never will, but one night I went to bed and dreamt. I can't remember my dream but I remember waking up and feeling entirely changed, like a whole new person, but entirely for the better. I recognized all of my past faults, all the things I had done wrong to others, etc. My wife at the time said to me, "you are acting totally different".

I tried to explain it to her that I think god had spoken to me. She told me I was crazy and that I had never been religious whatsoever in my life. I told her she is right, but I feel like I've seen the light now. To this day (and it hasn't even been that long) I still feel the same way and I truly feel like I've been "awaken" for lack of a better word. I honestly can't explain it but I feel like I have this amazing relationship with the lord that I never had before.

To someone who isn't religious (which was me before) this sounds nuts. It sounds like I drank the Kool-Aid and I totally get that. Religion isn't for everyone, in fact, it wasn't for me before, not one bit.

I just wanted to share a story from someone who was the biggest atheist imaginable. I don't know what happened to me but if I had to guess, I found god.
That’s a very personal story and glad you could share it with us... as they say God works in mysterious ways.. I grew up in church and over the past 20+years I have attended and not really attended like your “suppose” to.. kids, work, jeep stuff, whatever... but I am glad you have and you will always Be Better for it!
 
Will there be a revival at the next TJ Fest? I'm asking for a friend.
1622591544189.jpeg
 
Th
All my life I have been a non-religious person. In fact, I would have even considered myself an atheist. I spent my entire life thinking there was no higher power. About 6 months ago after moving to Arizona we started taking the kids to a youth group at church where they made a lot of friends, but I also made a lot of friends myself. I started staying for the services with the kids and my life changed.

I don't know how to explain it and I never will, but one night I went to bed and dreamt. I can't remember my dream but I remember waking up and feeling entirely changed, like a whole new person, but entirely for the better. I recognized all of my past faults, all the things I had done wrong to others, etc. My wife at the time said to me, "you are acting totally different".

I tried to explain it to her that I think god had spoken to me. She told me I was crazy and that I had never been religious whatsoever in my life. I told her she is right, but I feel like I've seen the light now. To this day (and it hasn't even been that long) I still feel the same way and I truly feel like I've been "awaken
Thank you for sharing Chris I also was never a religious person and thought that there was no God. Until I was 18 and saw the light and truth of the gospel and that changed everything for me also.
 
I was never raised in what you'd call a "religious" household. However, I always had this feeling that there had to be more to it all than what I was seeing. At fourteen, I attended a Baptist church for the first time, and what they shared with me seemed to click all the boxes to everything I had been feeling inside. I accepted Christ into my life shortly thereafter, and have never looked back. This is not to say that all of my convictions are as strong as perhaps they should be on some things. Some would be disheartened at my view on a few issues. But I'm a praying man. I'll give thanks for my meal in a McDonalds. I pray when times are bad, or good. I give thanks. I ask questions. I just believe.

Good to hear that you have found this in your life, Chris. Call on Him for strength to help get you through the tough times you're facing. Give thanks for what you have, including the challenges. That may sound counterintuitive, but it's all a part of life, and life should be about growing, and having an appreciation for that gift. Just my two cents worth...;)
 
Last edited:
Good for you Chris.


I won’t go into details here. It’s my story.


I share MOST of my life without regard.


But I will say…


I have seen, experienced, and felt pure evil in this world. I HAVE to believe that good is present and yes, have felt and experienced that too. It’s a balance.


Just remember that part. Be aware of it.


Your faith is beholden to you. It’s for nobody else. Prayers your way.
 
I was brought up in church (Lutheran) and still have faith that God is real and true. Just as good exists in the world, so does evil. The "church" and I, however have a much more complicated relationship. I should probably get over it, but its hard for me to participate in a place with so much hypocrisy (both the organizations and the people within them).

I'm glad you found some solace and salvation, Chris. Its comforting to know that you can depend on Him when no one else can help.
 
From your description, you sound like you were more Agnostic as opposed to Atheist? Either way, God is happy you accepted Him.
Talk to God like you would a friend at least once day just like He is sitting there beside you, because He is.
Give thanks every morning when you wake up for another day on His earth.
This is how I show praise to Him, everyday.
 
Good on you Chris.

My wife is not a "religious" person, she is a faithful person and I respect that. She's good, she's kind, everyone loves her. She's not a church-goer and she doesn't have to be because she "walks the walk". I met her in my early-forties and in the 23 years we've been together she's helped me to become a better man - one who always tries to do the right thing, rather than the one who always tried to do the right thing FOR ME. But more than that example we've set for our daughter has been the big payoff; at 15 she's a decent and honest person, a good person we're proud to be with.

That said, I am not religious at all. I was raised a Catholic, Catholic schools all the way through, mass every day, alter boy, stations of the cross - the whole package. But what I realized along the way is you believe what you believe and no one can change that. For me it's a wait-and-see thing. There's never been anyone who's come back from the other side to tell us what's ahead so we really can't know for sure, but I believe in equality, in living a good life, being kind to animals, helping people who are not so fortunate as we are, and if there's a "Kingdom Of Heaven" deal at the end that's fine. But if there's not, there's not. But no matter what the other side brings I have nothing to be ashamed of here.