Belief: It’s Not What You Think

I’ve believed in Jesus my whole life. Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but I literally can not remember a time when I didn’t know as a fact that Jesus was real, and the Bible is true.

I knew He died on the cross. I knew He rose again. I knew I needed Him for salvation. And I wanted Him—at least, I wanted Him enough to receive His redemption. But I didn’t want Him enough to surrender. I didn’t want Him enough to let Him change me.

The truth is, church pews are filled with people just like that. People who believe in Jesus, who want His forgiveness, who sing the songs and nod their heads at the sermons—but who haven’t truly entrusted their lives to Him.

And I was one of them.

Dead Inside but Claiming to Be Alive

I spent years thinking I had a firm grasp on salvation, but I was dead inside. At least, it felt that way. I went through the motions. I knew all the right answers. I prayed when I was supposed to, read my Bible here and there, and tried to be a “good person.” But there was no real joy, no real transformation.

My life was a mess. My marriage was falling apart. My self-esteem was in the gutter. I was filling the empty places inside me with everything but God—relationships, distractions, food, bad habits, anything to numb what I refused to face.

And then one day, someone looked at me. Not just glanced at me, not just made small talk—but really saw me. They saw my pain, my exhaustion, my pretending. And God used that person to show me what I had been refusing to see all along.

God saw me.

He saw my struggle. He saw the disconnect between my words and my reality. He saw that I had believed in Him but had never really entrusted my life to Him. And because of that, I had never truly lived the abundant life He promises.

I thought salvation was a ticket to heaven. I thought believing in Jesus was enough. But the Bible says something deeper.

The Kind of Belief That Saves

John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

That word believe—it’s not just about agreeing that Jesus is real. It’s not just about knowing He died for you. The Greek word used in this verse means to entrust. It’s a belief that involves giving over your life, not just acknowledging facts.

That’s where I had gone wrong.

I had believed about Jesus. I had wanted what He could do for me. But I had never entrusted my life to Him. I had never handed over control. I had never surrendered.

And without surrender, there is no salvation.

Jesus Can’t Just Be Your Savior—He Has to Be Your Lord

For years, I wanted Jesus to be my Savior, but I refused to let Him be my Lord. I wanted His gift of salvation, but I didn’t want to give up my sin. I didn’t want to give up my “fun.” I didn’t want to change.

And honestly? There were nights I was so low, I begged God to take my life.

I had everything except peace. I was exhausted from chasing things that would never satisfy me. I was running after relationships I had no business being in, filling my loneliness with sin, drowning out my brokenness with every coping mechanism I could find.

And all along, what I needed was right in front of me.

Not a belief that Jesus existed.

Not a religion that told me how to behave.

Not a prayer I had prayed once as a kid.

I needed Him.

I needed to surrender.

You Can’t Halfway Follow Jesus

If you feel empty… If you feel like you’re missing something… If you say you believe in Jesus but nothing in your life looks different because of it… You need to hear this:

You can’t halfway follow Jesus.

Salvation isn’t just repeating a prayer. It’s not just going to church. It’s not just mentally agreeing that Jesus died for you. It’s entrusting Him with your entire life.

Jesus doesn’t want to be your accessory—He wants to be your everything.

That means you let go of your sin.

That means you stop trying to run your own life.

That means you don’t just believe about Him—you give yourself to Him.

And when you do?

You won’t be dead inside anymore. You won’t feel like you’re grasping at empty things. You’ll have life, real life, the kind you were created for.

It’s Time to Make a Choice

Maybe you’ve believed in Jesus your whole life. But have you entrusted yourself to Him?

Maybe you’ve called Him Savior. But is He your Lord?

I wasted so many years thinking I had something I didn’t. I don’t want you to do the same. Jesus is the only way to life, and you don’t want to stand before Him one day only to realize you never truly knew Him.

You have a choice today.

You can keep doing what you’ve been doing—keep playing church, keep holding onto your control, keep chasing things that will never satisfy.

Or you can surrender. You can let Jesus be not just your Savior, but your Lord.

I don’t know your story, but I do know this: It’s worth it.

Whatever you think you’ll lose by giving your life to Jesus? You’re actually gaining something so much better. You’re gaining freedom. You’re gaining peace. You’re gaining a love that fills every empty place inside of you.

If you’re ready to stop just believing and start entrusting, I invite you to talk to God right now. No special words, no perfect formula—just a surrendered heart. Tell Him you’re ready. Ask Him to lead you. Give Him your life.

And then? Start walking in it.

Stop settling for a belief that leaves you empty.

Stop claiming a salvation that hasn’t changed you.

Stop treating Jesus like an accessory and start following Him as Lord.

You were made for more.

And today, you can start living in it.