I’ve been trying to find the words to write this post, but nothing seems good enough. How can I find the words to explain the true joy that I feel? It seems almost impossible.

Jake and I have been married for five years in just a couple of months, and together for about seven. When we got together, I was in my “rebellious” phase of walking with God, as I like to call it. I still had Jesus in my heart, but people probably wouldn’t have known it from being around me. I was barely even a Sunday Christian. Then we had Grady. My momma heart changed and I knew I wanted to raise my babies in church, really knowing Jesus and having a relationship with him like I did growing up.

I turned around and ran as fast as I could towards the cross, leaving Jake in the dust confused and shaken. I’m sure he couldn’t figure out why his wife went from not even going to church, to constantly being in her bible, at church or bible study, and trying to talk about Jesus, in no time at all. And it was hard on our marriage. It wasn’t what he signed up for when he married me, and I was frustrated that I couldn’t drag him in his faith along with me. I am as stubborn and strong-willed as they come, and the fact that I couldn’t get him to see what I saw, drove me nuts.

Looking back I can see how much God really had his hand in everything. He taught me patience and to surrender to him. What I thought was Him working in Jake was Him actually working in both of us. I quit pushing Jake and I gave it to God. I prayed every day for Jake to have a true relationship, and I kept going to church, reading my bible, and teaching Grady about God.

God being the faithful God He is, proved just how powerful and awesome He is. The past year I have been in awe at the change I have seen in Jake. He is the one praying with our boys every night. He is the one that drags me to church when I just want to sleep in. He got us involved in teaching a youth group class. He went to a three-day men’s spiritual retreat. And he is the spiritual leader of our home.

Two weeks ago was by far one of the happiest days of my life. Our preacher and I baptized my husband into Christ. I got to hear the words that I have been praying to hear for the last six years. That Jake accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I will never forget August 12, 2016. Jake is an amazing husband and an amazing father, and just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, I am proved wrong. One of the coolest things about his baptism was the example he set for Grady. Grady watched us so intensely, and wouldn’t move his eyes from Jake. When we got done Grady wrapped his arms around him and told him he was so proud of him for being baptized. It was an indescribable moment. I didn’t know if we would ever have the kind of marriage where we could hold hands and pray, or even just discuss the bible. Now having that is almost surreal. Having God as the center of our marriage is an indescribable, powerful love that can’t be broken.