Finding Jesus: My Journey of Faith and Transformation

I’m excited to share with you a journey that’s more than just a story – it’s the transformative experience of finding Jesus, which completely changed my life, and I believe it might change yours too. Let me take you back to where it all began – the challenges I faced before I met Jesus, the unforgettable moment when everything shifted, and the incredible ways my life has been transformed since that day.

This is my story – raw, real, and honest. It’s about how I found Jesus in the middle of my struggles, how He met me right where I was, and how He turned my life into something I never thought possible.

Before Jesus

Growing up in North Dakota, Sundays meant church and Catholic schools. But behind the routine, I battled constant fear and lack of confidence. Too scared to ask questions or reach out, I struggled in school and forming meaningful friendships.

In elementary school, no one ever told me Jesus loved me. Even hearing ‘I love you’ was rare. My only Bible connection was a big picture book on our living room table. Curiosity led me to open it once, only to be terrified by an image of the devil. That fear kept me from touching a Bible again until my late 20s.

College marked a turning point. For the first time, I felt free to ask questions I’d been afraid to before. However, my newfound curiosity didn’t immediately translate to good grades. My first quarter ended with a dismal 1.49 GPA, despite hours of studying. This setback ignited a determination to graduate with a 3.0 GPA, no matter what.

The breakthrough came when I discovered I was an auditory learner. Reading notes and textbooks aloud transformed my grades from C’s and D’s to A’s and B’s. I achieved my goal, graduating with a 3.0 GPA in Physical Education, with minors in Coaching, Driver Education, and Health.

Though I struggled academically at first, my curiosity and determination eventually led me to discover new ways of learning, which became part of my path toward finding Jesus.

On My Own

As I stepped into the interview room in North Dakota, my heart pounded. The Superintendent and High School Principal evaluated me, unaware that this moment would pivot my entire life. The next evening, a phone call changed everything. For the first time, I wouldn’t be returning home to my family. I was about to enter a world entirely on my own, both terrifying and thrilling.

For three years, I poured my heart into teaching and coaching in a small town. However, beneath the surface, I had a different dream – to live where I could golf 365 days a year. Golf wasn’t just a hobby; it had become my obsession, my idol.

When a teaching position opened in Kansas, I seized the opportunity. This was my chance to fulfill my dream. Little did I know, chasing this passion would lead me down an unexpected path, challenging everything I thought I knew about myself and what truly mattered.

After three years in Kansas, I made a bold move – leaving the classroom to become a motivational speaker. I aimed to inspire coaches and athletes to master the mental game.

However, as I shared my insights, a nagging question haunted me: was I seeking the secret to success or chasing something else? Was I running from something or towards something? The more I spoke about winning, the more I realized I was searching for something much deeper.

Finding Jesus

One Sunday morning changed everything. I turned on the radio, unaware that I was about to hear a message that would alter my life’s course. For the first time, I heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Over the next two months, I found myself drawn back to church, hungry for more. Each message pulled me closer to understanding and hope. Those radio sermons started my transformation on an unexpected journey to faith.

I wanted to visit that church, but fear held me back. I finally discovered the Sunday service time and made a deal with God. Have you ever made a deal with Him? The words during the service seemed odd, and I couldn’t grasp their meaning.

They were speaking in tongues—a language I’d never heard before. I told God if no one spoke in tongues during the service, I would go. To my surprise, He kept His end of the deal.

The service pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was accustomed to structured Masses at the Catholic Church, but this Charismatic service was different. The worship style captivated me despite being unfamiliar.

As I attended services, the Truth began to reveal itself. I started to understand what it truly meant to follow Jesus. During one Sunday evening service in December, my curiosity reached a tipping point.

I had many questions swirling in my mind. As the service ended, I turned to my friend Keith, and the questions poured out. It was like a dam had burst, and I was finally seeking answers to the mysteries I needed to know.

Best Decision of My Life

I didn’t know God was preparing me to find Jesus. Keith shared that the Lord revealed to him during the service that I would be saved that night. As we walked to the parking lot, Keith was the first person to personally ask me if I wanted to give my life to the Lord.

I recall that night vividly. I was ready. My questions were answered. I was about to make the Best Decision of my life. Think about it – we each have just ONE Best Decision. This was my moment. When I prayed, something shifted inside me. Do you know what happened?

I transitioned from darkness to light, a transformation that only Jesus could orchestrate. Once lost in unrighteousness, I was made righteous through His grace. God welcomed me as His beloved son, thanks to the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross.

Every sin, every stain, was erased – my sin nature, once a part of me, was removed forever. Finding Jesus is more than just a decision; it’s the best one you’ll ever make. It’s the moment when everything changes, when the weight of sin lifts, and when you’re reborn into a life of purpose and love.

Hearing God’s Voice

Following that evening, I prayed nightly for a month to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues. I received a Bible and started reading it aloud. The Holy Spirit became my guide, revealing profound truths from the Scriptures.

I regularly attended Keith’s Exhortation Classes on Monday evenings, gaining valuable insights. He once gave me a tape about the gifts of the Spirit. One morning, while driving to work, I listened to the tape. Keith was praying for a woman to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

As I listened to his Holy Spirit-led prayer, something miraculous happened – I was baptized and began speaking in tongues.

It took years to accurately discern God’s voice. A few years after my salvation, I moved to Minnesota – a period I refer to as my “Wilderness Experience.” It was a time of profound learning. Although I stopped attending church after visiting several over the years, I continued to grow through Christian television.

Steps of Faith

I felt a strong call from the Lord to attend a Bible College in Colorado. Yet, I was working for a ministry that provided me with room and board, plus $50 weekly. The challenge was daunting – I had no car, no computer, and no cell phone, leaving me puzzled about how to make the journey to Colorado.

It required a leap of faith and trust in the Lord. When He whispered those five words, my life’s path shifted forever. He said, “Go and I’ll provide.” It sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? My role was to go, and He was to provide. Despite minimal support from others, I took that step of faith, never looking back.

As I stepped into the Minneapolis airport, I carried just two bags of luggage, a one-way ticket, and barely $100 in my bank account. How would you feel in my shoes? Upon landing in Colorado, I saw mountains for the first time, and a deep sense of peace washed over me.

I had temporary lodging before classes began, and I spent a lot of time on my face in prayer. Upon arrival at school, I inquired about sponsorship but learned none existed. Still, I was encouraged to enroll “by faith.”

As I filled out paperwork, a student approached me, asking if I was Jeffrey Hardwick. I confirmed, and he handed me a check for $1,560 to cover books, fees, and my first semester. Tears welled up. The Lord provided, but I had to take that first step – to GO!

Discovering My Calling

That first day of classes marked the beginning of a five-year journey to uncover my true calling. The Lord bestows unique gifts upon us to bless others. While I recognized my gift for teaching early on, it wasn’t until later that I discovered He had also entrusted me with prophecy, words of knowledge, and words of wisdom.

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of sharing these gifts globally. The Lord once assigned me a unique task: posting a Craigslist ad offering prophetic words from Him. Within just one week, eight people responded, and each was profoundly blessed by their prophecies.

At the time, I didn’t realize that this single assignment marked the genesis of A Transforming Word Ministries. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of blessing countless people with teachings on hearing God’s voice, experiencing His presence, and receiving uplifting prophetic words.

We are each created and called by God. He has gifted you with unique talents, experiences, and desires. Just as I’ve shared my journey of finding Jesus with you today, the Lord is guiding you to share your own story.

Ask Him to guide you in writing and recording your testimony on video. The book of Acts shows us how early believers shared their stories as witnesses. As a child of God, it’s both a privilege and honor to glorify the Lord by sharing your personal journey of finding Jesus. Others will listen when you share your story. You won’t realize the impact until you take that step.

As I shared my insights and searched for answers, I realized that the journey of Finding Jesus was the deeper truth I had been seeking all along.

Categorised in: Sharing Your Testimony

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