My Journey of Faith — A Beginning
My name is John William Wessels, and I am from South Africa. For as long as I can remember, I have carried a desire to share the Word of God and to encourage those who feel weak in faith — those who believe, yet sometimes struggle to walk fully in it.
My life has not been perfect. I had a past where I wandered away from the path of righteousness. I made mistakes and was heading full speed toward a life of downfall and darkness. Then God placed someone extraordinary in my life — my wife, my angel. In the beginning, I hurt her deeply, yet through grace, patience, and love, she helped lead me back home, just like the prodigal son returning to his Father.
On 18 October 2024, I was baptised — the day my life truly changed. I became a newborn Christian and began a journey of growing in faith. And I have learned something important: a life walked in faith is still a journey. Choosing God does not mean struggles disappear. In many ways, the challenges can feel greater. I believe this happens because we are still babies in faith, and when the enemy seeks to strike, it is often when we are most vulnerable.
Yet I now live with peace, knowing:
“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
This blog is not meant to frighten you with world news or opinions. Instead, it is meant to acknowledge what we see happening around us while encouraging you not to walk by sight, but by faith.
One of the first lessons I learned was this: you cannot truly love God or others if you do not learn to love yourself. And you cannot love yourself if you do not believe that God truly forgives your sins when you repent. Grace must first be accepted before it can be lived.
To anyone beginning their journey of faith, I encourage you to start with the Gospels. Read the words of Jesus. Hold onto the promise found in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
Today we see wars, violence, persecution, and uncertainty across the world. It is easy to become afraid. How do we witness these things and not lose hope?
The Bible reminds us that God already knew these things would come to pass. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks about troubled times — yet throughout Scripture, God repeats one message again and again: “Do not be afraid.” A command given hundreds of times, enough for every day of the year.
So this is my first blog post — not as someone who has arrived, but as someone still walking, still learning, still growing.
I invite you to walk this journey of faith with me, as together we grow stronger each day, choosing faith over fear.
