By
I always had a sense of God and felt him with me from a very young age. I grew up Catholic but only attended church on Easter and Christmas. I dated a boy (now my husband) very grounded in his faith. His faith attracted me to him in the first place. His boldness and unashamed faith in God inspired me. I wanted that. He grew up with a strong Christian family and they always went to church on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.
I started tagging along and fell in love with Jesus.
The beginning of my faith story
In the summer of 2000, an opportunity came for me to attend a youth trip. My family didn’t have much money and I had a job, but I just couldn’t afford to go. My youth pastor, brother Todd, pulled me aside after youth group one night to tell me someone anonymously paid my way. I felt blown away and so grateful.
I went to the camp in North Carolina that summer. During one of the services, I felt the Holy Spirit move. My heart yearned for more. It was my moment to go up front and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior. I’ve never felt such an overwhelming amount of love and excitement in my life. A friend, Gretchen, prayed with me, cried with me and just loved on me until I pulled myself together. My life was forever changed.
After camp, I attended the MILK classes my church offered to gain a deeper understanding of my new faith. After the courses, I should have followed with believers baptism. But I never did it. Whatever the reason –too timid, too anxious, too shy– whatever it was, I was not obedient. It ashamed me and I kept it to myself and my husband and hoped God would forget about it.
Fear drove a wedge between me & God
Years passed and my faith grew stronger and stronger but I always felt a wedge between myself and God. I blocked out his voice of what he wanted me to do.
My sister accepted Christ about 10 years after I did. She followed in baptism last October. You would think her example might encourage me to finally obey, but it didn’t. In fact, the opposite happened. I wondered how it looked to others? I became saved years before and never obeyed something the Bible encourages us to do.
Step out in faith.
My flesh and my ego once again got in the way. This past weekend we visited family in the Tampa area. My cousin called me and invited us to the fair in town. Without hesitation or even realizing what I was saying, I refused. I told her I really looked forward to visiting her church. With a bunch of
When we arrived at their church, Grace family church (which by the way is AMAZING), the pastor spoke about making your relationship with Jesus your own. It’s not your parents’ relationship or your spouses’ relationship, it’s your own. It is MINE.
Finally following God completely
After the message, they invited anyone who wanted to baptized to stay after the service. At that exact moment, my husband Jacob leaned in. As if he read my mind, he asked, “Babe, do you want to get baptized?”
He knew this was on my heart for a while, but we hadn’t discussed it in quite some time. It surprised me and confirmed God was speaking to both of us. Again, my mind convinced me this wasn’t the right time. As a visitor, I thought I would inconvenience my family members by waiting on me. But mostly, I felt embarrassed. After being a believer for so long, I refused to take such an important step. I didn’t want that known about me.
I walked up anyway unable to say no to God any longer.
Following God never felt so good
I literally took the plunge and have never been so at ease. The wedge between myself and God that I felt for so long is gone. I’m thankful God never gave up on me.
I am a new creation and my crazy love for my savior is stronger than ever. It was my appointment and his precious timing.
Fun fact: Years later, I discovered my precious mother-in-law, who was just my boyfriend’s mom at the time, and a dear friend, Donna, were the two angels who felt led to pay my camp fee which ultimately led me to Jesus at 17 years old.
Acts 2:38 says “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Is fear holding you back?
Maybe following in believer’s baptism isn’t something you struggled with after your salvation. But maybe there’s something else God’s asking you to do and you’ve refused over and over again. You feel the distance but the fear keeps you from following Him. Can I let my story be an example to you of the freedom of Christ when we submit to His will?
Whatever fear you’re facing today, will you leave it at the cross? Will you ask the Lord to help you trust him and fearlessly follow Him?
Jeannie Petty has been married to her high school sweetheart for 15 years, together they have 3 beautiful miracles after years of struggling with infertility. Jeannie is a sign language interpreter at the Florida School for the deaf and blind. She currently attends Good news church (WGV Campus)and Bible study fellowship on Wednesday mornings. This busy mama loves the Lord and loves her family and taking time to soak up the little moments that mean so much.