I’ve always liked numbers. Growing up I played the card game Cribbage and memorized dozens baseball statistics of professional baseball players.

I’ve never been much of a reader or a writer. It was all about the numbers.

My Dad and I decided that I would major in accounting in college and work for a Big 6 firm, but after taking accounting in college, I decided it was not for me. I was still focused on “numbers” so I got a job at a local bank. This turned into a career in giving financial advice and this is where I have been since. My entire career has been about money.

In 2006, a pivot occurred as I began reading the Bible consistently. With this, many things began to change as I got to know God more and more. I became more familiar with His ways. I am still a work in progress, but one thing is absolutely true:

“When I’m with You (God), I feel the real me breaking through.”

You may recognize this song lyric by the band Citizen’s Way.

All my life, I’ve had so many strong influencers—bosses, family, friends—that have prevented the real me from coming out. My own bad decisions haven’t helped! The decision to focus on numbers and ignore the importance of reading and writing kept me from discovering something I was created to do: share thoughts and ideas with words.

For years I thought I wrote poorly, and I was scared to speak in public. This is frightening! A big part of my life could have gone undiscovered if I hadn’t spent the time to get to know God. I could have just kept going my own way and missing a part of who I was created to be.

How about you? What have you discovered about yourself by spending more time with God?

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41:10.

*Lyric from “When I’m With You” by the band Citizen Way. See their website here