Meet Jonathan Roberts

Man, oh man, this one hit me square in the face as I'm sure it did with Paul's original audience, which was the church in Rome. I can only imagine how the early church felt as they read how their self-righteousness and moral goodness would only lead to God's wrath. I can definitely relate because self-reliance is a big part of my story, and the guilt and pain can pile up. From my teens until I was 30 years old, I did a lot of praying for no consequences and rebelling without surrendering and accepting. This horrible cycle led to promiscuity, divorce, bad relationships, and lifelessness as I tried to work my way out of my failures. I misunderstood the heart of the matter for so long.

I knew who Jesus was when I was growing up, but He wasn't my Lord. He didn't have my heart. I defined what good was or wasn't, and I pursued inappropriate relationships, performance-based acceptance, and people pleasing. And I struggled with all of the above, so pressure piled up, and the guilt of leaning on my own understanding weighed me down. I thought that I'd eventually be able to get to the top and find peace, so I strived (Proverbs 23:4). In the midst of all this, God patiently pursued me through His Word, prayer, and people.

In the spring of 2011, Jesus changed everything when He became my go-to instead of self-gratification or any other temporary solution (Luke 9:23). When I realized in His timing that my works and self-reliance were slowly burying me, I turned to the only One who could unbury me. Jesus gave me eternal life. When I accepted God's gift of grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9), He changed everything. What peace and comfort relying on Jesus' work on the cross—God's demonstration of His love for us (Romans 5:8)—truly brings. It doesn't mean things are perfect. I still struggle, but His Word, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and His provision through community now lead me back to Him daily, and there's no one who can take His gift away (Romans 8:35-39).