How to start a relationship with Jesus in a fast-paced, distracted world is a question more people are quietly asking—especially those who feel disconnected, burned out, or spiritually empty.
This video offers a calm, thoughtful introduction to Jesus for people with no religious background. It focuses on meaning, identity, inner peace, and purpose rather than rules or institutions.
Inside this message you’ll discover: • Why Jesus appeals to modern seekers • How faith can coexist with critical thinking • What it means to follow Jesus daily • How spirituality brings motivation and clarity • Why starting small is enough
This is an invitation, not a demand.
If you’re searching for direction, hope, or a deeper sense of purpose, this video meets you where you are.
👉 Watch more inspirational faith content here: Watch Douglas Vandergraph’s inspiring faith-based videos on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@douglasvandergraph
00:00You know, friends, if you've been a part of this community long enough, you know that I don't chase trends.
00:07I don't normally talk about things that are going on in the news or in the world, but I do talk about what's going on in my world quite a bit as a parent and a husband.
00:21You know, I always seem to come up with some ideas and things to talk about related to those topics because, well, they're important to me.
00:29But there's something quietly powerful about the days leading into a new year, and I'm going to chase a trend this year and talk to you a little bit about committing to something you can actually follow through with.
00:42You know, every year I hear from the hundreds of people, Doug, this year I'm going to get in shape.
00:49Doug, this year I'm going to lose weight.
00:51Doug, this year I'm going to do this, that, or the other thing.
00:53And I love the commitment.
00:55I love the motivation and the inspiration.
00:57But a couple weeks later, they're back to their old habits, doing the things that they were doing before.
01:05Exercise is gone.
01:07They're eating like they were before they committed to a diet.
01:11And, you know, I get it.
01:13It's hard to stay committed.
01:16Because committing to something that will stand the test of time and actually change your life is not always fireworks.
01:23And it's not always a resolution that you scribbled on a piece of paper while you were out on Friday night.
01:32It's that pause where you look at your life and think, something has to change.
01:39Not because everything is broken, but because something feels unfinished.
01:46And if you're here, and I think millions of people are, right now there's a movement in the world towards Jesus and Christianity that is unprecedented.
01:57And a lot of people right now are curious about Jesus.
02:02They're curious about Christianity.
02:05Even a little unsure why this pull is happening.
02:08But I'm going to tell you something.
02:11You need to hear this first.
02:13You are not weird for feeling this.
02:18I'm a former atheist.
02:20And it totally confused my immediate family and everybody around me.
02:26I actually had to delete my contact list on my phone because I'm different.
02:31And I got tired of explaining why I'm not interested in engaging in the things that I used to engage in.
02:38I didn't ask for this change.
02:41It just happened.
02:42And, you know, if you're feeling this sudden pull towards this unprecedented movement in the world towards Jesus and Christianity,
02:53then you're not late to the conversation.
02:57And you are not required to pretend you know things you don't.
03:02In fact, the people Jesus connected with most often were the ones who said,
03:10I don't know.
03:11But I want to.
03:15And that's where real faith begins.
03:18You see, many people think Christianity starts with belief.
03:23Strong belief.
03:25Confident belief.
03:27Unshakable belief.
03:29It doesn't.
03:31I'm going to tell you where it does start.
03:33It starts with honesty.
03:35You see, Jesus never approached people and said, convince yourself I exist.
03:43He said, come and see.
03:46Not come and perform and not come and impress.
03:50But as you are, without change, come and see.
03:57And that means if you're standing at the edge of 2026 thinking, I don't know much about this, but I want something deeper in my life.
04:08You are already standing in the perfect place.
04:13You see, let's clear something up right away.
04:16A relationship with Jesus is not about becoming religious.
04:20Okay, you don't have to become a Catholic or a Protestant.
04:24You don't have to choose sides.
04:27Because you see, religion is about rules, systems, performance, and comparison.
04:34But if you want to get to know Jesus, well, Jesus is about relationship.
04:40And relationships don't begin with rules.
04:44They begin with connection.
04:48You see, you don't build a relationship by knowing everything about the other person.
04:53You build it by showing up honestly.
04:58So, how do you start to get to know Jesus?
05:01Well, you start the same way you would with anyone you want to know.
05:06You talk.
05:08You see, prayer is not a formula.
05:11And it's not a chant.
05:13And it's not religious language that some religion owns.
05:17You don't need to know the specific prayer to get Jesus' attention.
05:24You just got to open your mouth and start talking.
05:28That's it.
05:29It's really that simple.
05:31You see, prayer is simply speaking honestly.
05:35Out loud or even silently.
05:38With the possibility that someone is listening.
05:43And it's true.
05:45And if you've never prayed before, that can feel a little awkward.
05:51But that's okay.
05:53You see, you don't need poetic words.
05:56You don't even need certainty.
05:58And you don't need confidence.
06:01You can say something as simple as, oh, I don't know.
06:08Jesus, I don't know exactly who you are.
06:11I don't know if I believe in anything yet.
06:14But if you're real, and if you care, I want to know you.
06:21And I'm open.
06:23You see, that prayer is not weak.
06:26That prayer is brave.
06:29Because it takes courage to admit you don't have all the answers.
06:34Now, here's something that might surprise you.
06:38Christianity is not about trying harder to be better.
06:43I know what you've been told.
06:45And I know what you see religious people doing.
06:49But it's actually about learning how to receive before you ever try to perform.
06:56You see, Jesus didn't gather people by saying, get your life together first.
07:02Say these specific words first.
07:07And if you don't perform this activity or ritual, I'm not interested in you.
07:13No, he didn't do that at all.
07:16He gathered people by saying, follow me.
07:21Follow.
07:22Think about that word.
07:25Follow not to impress.
07:28Follow not master everything immediately.
07:31And follow, but not pretend.
07:36You see, that means your doubts don't disqualify you.
07:40That's the amazing thing.
07:41See, your questions don't offend God.
07:45In fact, asking honest questions is often the first sign of a genuine faith forming.
07:53And if you want to grow in this relationship,
07:56the next step is not church attendance or religious identity.
08:02Let's set that aside.
08:05Because the next step is getting to know Jesus as a person.
08:11You know, and the best way to do that is about by reading the stories of his life.
08:16Not religious commentary and not debates.
08:21Set that aside.
08:23Put the actual accounts of how he spoke.
08:26How he treated people.
08:29And how he responded to pain, hypocrisy, fear, and failure.
08:35And I think there's going to be lessons there for you to learn.
08:40Because you're going to find that Jesus was more human than you've ever realized.
08:48He came here to be one of us.
08:50To experience the life we experience.
08:53So, he could be a wonderful God that understands us and our human struggle.
09:03You see, just start with the Gospel of John.
09:06It's really easy.
09:08Read it slowly.
09:10Don't rush.
09:11And don't read it to try to understand everything that comes with time, with attention.
09:19You'll read through it, and a lot of it won't make sense, but it will.
09:24It's okay.
09:26And you should read it to notice who Jesus is.
09:31That's the way I started.
09:34You know, notice who he welcomes.
09:38Notice who he challenges.
09:41It's going to blow you out of the water.
09:44Notice how he talks to people who feel unseen.
09:48And you'll find something unexpected.
09:50Jesus was not distant.
09:54He's not harsh.
09:56And he's not impressed by status.
10:00He is deeply human.
10:02And deeply compassionate.
10:07Let's talk a little bit about motivation, because that matters, too, when we're going into a new year.
10:12You see, a relationship with Jesus doesn't change your beliefs.
10:18It changes your why.
10:21Why you keep going when life feels heavy.
10:24Why you continue to show up, and you don't give up.
10:30Why you choose integrity when shortcuts are tempting.
10:33Why you forgive even when it's hard.
10:37And why you never give up on yourself.
10:42And I've said it many times.
10:45The difference between people who live the life they want to live and just simply survive is that the people who have what they want in life, they don't quit.
10:56But when they come up against a roadblock, they keep pushing forward until they get to their destination and achieve their goal.
11:07And when you get to know Jesus, you're going to find how much easier it becomes to move forward toward your goals and dissolve the roadblocks that come your way.
11:21You see, following Jesus will not actually remove the struggle, but it'll give the struggle meaning.
11:29And instead of asking, why is this happening to me?
11:33You'll begin to ask, who am I becoming through this?
11:38And that shift, well, that shift reshapes your entire life.
11:45Another important truth that's especially for someone new.
11:49So, your growth with Jesus will not be instant.
11:55And Jesus never rushed people into maturity.
11:59He walked with them.
12:01And if all you do in 2026 is learn how to pray honestly, read a little, and stay open, you're not behind.
12:11You are exactly where you need to be.
12:14You see, faith grows like a relationship, not a checklist.
12:21And there will be days when you feel close.
12:25Days you feel unsure.
12:29And days you feel absolutely nothing at all.
12:33And none of those mean you are failing.
12:36What they mean is you're human.
12:38So, as this new year approaches, maybe your resolution isn't about becoming religious.
12:46That's okay.
12:48Maybe it's about becoming honest.
12:52Honest about your fears.
12:54Honest about your hopes.
12:57Honest about the questions you've ignored.
13:00And maybe, just maybe, you'll let Jesus meet you there.
13:08Not as a rule enforcer.
13:10Not as a distant figure from history.
13:13But as someone who understands your life.
13:18Your pressures.
13:20Your confusion.
13:22And your longing for something real.
13:25You see, you don't need to know everything to begin.
13:30You'll only need one step.
13:33A conversation.
13:36A page.
13:37A moment of openness.
13:40And that's how a relationship with Jesus starts.
13:44It's really that easy.
13:45And if you begin that journey in 2026, you may look back one day and realize something
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