Faith Without a Label: How God Stays at the Center of Our Lives

 

I personally was raised in a Catholic family, where faith was structured, reverent, and routine. 

I knew the prayers, attended Mass, and learned the stories, but as I grew older, life pulled me in other directions. 

Church became less frequent, and eventually, I found myself outside its doors, unsure where I fit spiritually. But here’s the thing: I never stopped believing.

Even as I drifted from religion, I never let go of God. I still pray, still read scripture, and I teach my kids what I know, sometimes through bedtime Bible stories, sometimes just through how we live. Our home isn't pinned to a specific denomination. 

We believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and he died on the cross for our sins.

Watching my husband’s faith journey has been humbling and beautiful. He didn't grow up with much exposure to the Bible, but now it feels like he's surpassed me in knowledge and understanding. It wasn’t forced or dramatic, just a slow, steady transformation born of curiosity, love, and grace. That kind of growth is powerful.

And yes, I believe miracles happen. 

Sometimes they’re quiet, like a moment of peace in chaos or a whisper of hope when you need it most. Sometimes they show up through other people, in ways too perfect to be a coincidence. 

I’ve learned that God is always working through you, through others, in ways we often don't even see until we're looking back.

Life tests us constantly, and I've come to believe that our reactions matter more than we realize. Faith doesn’t mean everything goes smoothly. It means trusting that there's purpose in the process, that every trial is shaping something deeper in us.

Still, I want to be clear: we DO NOT judge anyone for believing differently. In fact, we embrace the diversity of faiths and paths people take. It's not our job to decide who's right. That’s up to Jesus. We're here to love people. Period.

I’ve also seen how easy it is for newfound faith to become all-consuming. How, when we’re too eager to share it, we can accidentally push away the ones we love. I’ve learned that faith shared gently has far more impact than faith shouted loudly. Let it shine through how you live, not just what you say.

If you've ever felt like you don’t quite belong in a church but still feel deeply connected to God… you're not alone. Faith doesn’t need a label. It just needs love, intention, and grace.

"Let all that you do be done in love." —1 Corinthians 16:14

We don’t need the perfect words or the perfect walk. Just an honest heart, a willingness to grow, and a little grace—for ourselves and for others.

PSA- When Your Experience Doesn’t Match the Headlines

These days, the Catholic Church gets a lot of criticism; sometimes for heartbreaking reasons. There have been scandals, cover-ups, and deep failures in leadership that deserve to be confronted. But while it's easy to paint all priests or even the Pope with a broad brush, I hold a different memory in my heart. ❤️

I spent nine years in Catholic school (K-8 grade). Was I embarrassed by the plaid skirt and awkward socks? Definitely. Did I get teased a little? Sure. 

But looking back now as an adult, I’m honestly grateful for that chapter. We had God in our classrooms, in our gym classes, and in our ordinary school days. We went to Mass during the week, not just on Sundays. And even if I didn’t realize it at the time, it laid a foundation that helped shape my awareness, my conscience, and my sense of purpose.

I didn’t leave the Church because of hurt, hate, or trauma. I simply grew in a different direction. But that doesn’t erase the gratitude I feel for the good it brought me. Faith is never one-size-fits-all, and neither are the paths we take to find it.