God Made Himself Real to Me

This story is part of a much larger journey, so I encourage you to read it in full later. (Read full story here.) But here is a piece of it — one that changed my life forever.

A Season of Struggle

For a long time, I wrestled with deep personal struggles. I had reached such a low point that I began to question whether God was even real. And if He wasn’t… I honestly couldn’t see any purpose in continuing to live.

One night, in total despair, I found myself driving aimlessly around Tacoma, Washington. I felt hopeless, empty, and ready to give up. Eventually, I pulled into a small motel. Once inside the room, I dropped to my knees and cried out to the God I had been taught about as a child.

It wasn’t a polished or religious prayer. Through tears I said:

“God, I don’t even know if You are real. But if You are, please make Yourself real to me. Because if You’re not… there’s no reason to live.”

God Begins to Answer

That night, nothing dramatic happened — no lightning bolts, no audible voice from heaven. But over the next couple of months, something began to shift. God started to make Himself real to me in undeniable ways.

I began noticing that prayers I prayed — even simple, desperate ones — were being answered specifically, and exactly in line with what I had asked. This gave me a glimmer of hope. Maybe God really was real. Maybe He was listening. But part of me still wondered: What if this is just coincidence?

A Bold Prayer

About a month or two later, I had to return to the dentist. At my first visit, they had found a cavity, and now I was going back to have it filled.

On the drive there, I prayed one of the boldest prayers of my life:
“God, if You are real — as I’m beginning to believe You are — please make this cavity disappear before I get to the dentist.”

I’ll never forget sitting in that chair. The dentist looked into my mouth, puzzled. He turned to his assistant and said he couldn’t find the cavity they had seen just a week earlier. They pulled up the x-rays, and sure enough, the cavity was right there on the film. But in my mouth… it was gone.

The dentist couldn’t explain it. But I knew. This wasn’t coincidence. This was God answering a desperate prayer in a way no one else could.

At that moment, I knew without a doubt: God is real.

Grace and Mercy

He didn’t have to do it. I didn’t deserve it. In fact, I deserved judgment for my unbelief. Yet in His grace, mercy and love, He revealed Himself to me. Just as Scripture says:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” — John 3:16–17

An Invitation to You

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever wondered if God is real, I want to invite you to do what I did: call out to Him.

You don’t need fancy words or a perfect prayer. Just be honest — tell Him your doubts, your struggles, your hopes. Ask Him to make Himself real to you. He promises that those who seek Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

He loves you. He knows you. And He is ready to meet you right where you are. Don’t wait. Cry out to Him today.

Here’s a simple prayer you can pray:

“God, I’m not even sure how to pray. But I want to know You. Please make Yourself real to me. Forgive me for my sins and my doubts. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me so I could have life in Him. I give my life to You. Please lead me, guide me, and show me Your truth. Amen.”

Don’t wait — call out to Him today. He is listening, and He is faithful.