Late means you’ve arrived after the expected, proper, or usual time. Have you ever felt
like you were late to Christ? Ever felt like you had gone too much time without talking to him or
going to church? Have you ever had the impression that if you didn’t grow up going to church
every Sunday or read your bible every day you couldn’t have a relationship with Jesus and you
felt “too late” to the game? I can answer YES with full confidence to these questions. I have felt
every single feeling of being “late” to my faith and I want you to know that you are not alone.
Jesus has been patiently waiting for you to know him, love him, and have a relationship with him
since the day you were born.
I was baptized and raised in the Catholic church till the age of 10. At the time, I didn’t
really understand who Jesus was and why I was standing in a church for two hours listening to
scripture I couldn’t comprehend. My parents divorced the year we left the school that was
affiliated with the church which ultimately led to what I felt as “church hurt”. If you’ve
experienced this, you know that feeling of never wanting to go back, and the anxiety of starting
over somewhere else just turns you away from the entire idea of faith. Years of this feeling kept
me away from strengthening that relationship with Christ and my lack of confidence in his plan.
I had friends invite me to their churches every year and sometimes I had the open mind to go but
I always felt like there was too much click between the other kids. I thought that if I wasn’t as
involved as them, I would never fit in and always feel hurt. I’m here to tell you that his love will
heal and fill your heart to the point where that hurt is never felt again. “The Lord is close to the
brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalms 35:18). As someone whose
spirit was crushed and felt forgotten, Christ met me face to face at the age of 18 on a Sunday
morning when he knew I needed him most.
It’s the third week of school, I’ve moved states away from my family and attending
college at Grand Canyon University. My friend invited me to a newer church they heard about,
called Fixate. I was open to the idea but nervous about the whole idea of church. The first thing I
saw when I was walking up the steps was a sign that said: “We are so happy you’re here”. Not
only was a church happy to have a broken, scared, and hurt person like me, but Jesus was happy
I was there too. September 10 th , 2023, my faith was restored, and I finally felt the Holy Spirit in a
whole new way. Tears of joy and confusion ran down my face as the only worship song I’d ever
heard and knew started to play. I knew that wasn’t just a coincidence, it was Jesus welcoming me
home intentionally and comfortably. After the service, I went home and tried to grasp what just
happened. This is when the questions and doubts flooded my brain wondering if I was too late to
be building a whole new relationship with Jesus and if I was behind all the other girls who I saw
in church that day raising their hands and confidently worshipping the Lord. The truth is, you’re
never late because you’re on His time.
If you know anything about the story of Peter, you know that he denied Jesus not once,
but three times. Peter eventually discovered that it was not too late for him to return to Christ
after all he had been through. He confessed his sins and asked for forgiveness and received his
second chance. This story helped me understand that we can never let God down too many times.
“And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved” (Peter 3:15). He will always
be patiently waiting for you to come back to him even if you think it’s “too late”. I feel like Peter
sometimes, wondering if my past reflects on who I am and if I can still be loved. You’ve been
loved by him before you even knew it, you just have to accept it!
If you are feeling “late” to the game, forget your doubts and what everyone around you is
saying. See for yourself who he is and what he has in store for you. It took me eight years to put
my full trust in God and to finally have a relationship with him, not be led by a religion. His
timing is always perfect because he is perfect. It wasn’t until I doubted and lost him, he pulled
me back and showed me what a fulfilling life it is to live in his light. Looking back, I wish
someone had told me I didn’t need to have grown up in the church, had the perfect rainbow
highlighted bible, or verses memorized to have a relationship with Christ. You need faith and
confidence in his plan for you. You are never too late to start believing and loving Jesus with
your whole heart.
❤️ Audrey Turner
Audrey,
Your transparency, courage, and vibrant love of your Savior shines thru this blog .
He is using you and will continue to draw you onto Himself, His plan and His refinement for the rest of your days! For in His perfect timing He drew you to Himself, and we are the ones blessed to see you flourish!!
Thank you for showing your scars and loving your Jesus!!
Cathy
Reading through this post with blurry eyes, I couldn’t help but smile BIG. God is SO good! I’ve prayed this for you as I did many of Shay’s friends and will be praying you forward! I grew up singing and praying, heck my first song I learned was Jesus Loves Me. I went to church on Sundays, Awana on Wednesdays, Youth groups on Thursdays, church camps, family camps, VBS, you name it… I was there. I was baptized as a young teen and rallied most of my friends into joining me. I can honestly say I have never not known or loved Jesus. Yet somewhere in between accepting Jesus and trying to fit into or measure up in this crazy world, I too found myself wandering in the wilderness. However, we have a God who not only loves us, but desires closeness with us. Jesus left the 99 for me, for you, and for so many others. You said it so perfectly; whether you grow up praising Jesus, practicing a religion, or not knowing a thing …. Praise God for never giving up and for His perfect timing. GCU is a perfect spot to keep you growing in faith!
This made my heart so happy to see another Child affirm and become accepted into God’s eternal kingdom.
I absolutely LOVE your perspective and am so happy you are transparent about your feelings of being “late-to-the-game”.
As a Christian I want you to know I am rooting for you in every possible way-
you’re amazing and I know that God has I know that God hasmany things in store for you.
You have enlightened me into the feelings one may have when dedicating themself to Christ later in life- I will forever cherish the words you shared and take into account how overwhelming the feeling of accepting Christ can be sometimes.