About Me

I’m Jacob Rust, but most people call me Jake. I’m 24 years old and currently living in Utah, where the mountain views and local coffee shops never get old. I grew up in a close-knit family and have always loved bringing people together, whether it’s for deep conversation or just a good laugh around the table.

I believe life is better when it’s shared. I’m a learner, a listener, a friend, a brother, and someone who’s walked through hard things and come out more grounded in grace. I love having deep conversations, savoring strong coffee, taking mountain drives, and spending quality time with my community.

Life hasn’t always been easy or straightforward, but it has been real, and it has shaped me into someone who values authenticity, redemption, and community over polish or perfection.
I want to live a life that speaks louder than my words ever could, and invite others into a story that’s still being written.

My story is one of growth, grace, and learning to live with intention. It’s been shaped by highs and lows, seasons of clarity and seasons of confusion. At its heart, it’s a journey from self-reliance to surrender, from striving to showing up, and from isolation to genuine connection.

I’ve walked through moments that broke me open and seasons that rebuilt me stronger. I’ve wrestled with shame, chased approval, and lost my way more than once. But through it all, I’ve found that transformation doesn’t happen all at once; it’s a process of small steps, honest reflection, and faithful persistence. My story is still unfolding, but every chapter reminds me that who we’re becoming matters more than where we’ve been.

I was born in Colorado, but my family moved to Utah shortly after. I grew up on the far western border of Riverton, essentially in Herriman. This was before the 'UP' house, the McDonald's, and even the corridor; back when Mountain View Village was nothing but farmland.

During middle school, my family moved to Wanship, Utah, a wonderful little town nestled in the Wasatch Mountains, situated between Park City and the Wyoming border. We moved next door to our cousins and had the best time of our lives exploring the mountains and spending time with family. In the winters, we spent countless hours on the slopes, and in the summers, we were on the lake, hiking, working, and soaking up every day with friends and family.

Those places, seasons, and memories shaped who I am. They instilled in me a love for nature, a deep connection to community, and a sense of adventure that still drives how I live and lead today.

There have been several pivotal moments in my life that have changed everything. The first was back in junior high, when I was battling addiction and anxiety. I had accepted that this was just how life would be: numb, disconnected, and uncertain. But somewhere in 8th or 9th grade, I caught a glimpse of something better. Though I was raised in a Christian home, it wasn’t until then that I truly encountered the hope, freedom, and joy that comes with knowing Jesus. That was the first time I wanted to live all-out for Him.

Fast forward to 2020–2021: I had just bounced between three different colleges in three semesters, only to come home right as the world shut down during the pandemic. On the outside, life looked picture-perfect. My family lived on a mountain, and we had plenty of fun together. But internally, I was anxious, lonely, and depressed, numbing the pain and pretending everything was fine. I felt stuck, lost, and more alone than I’d ever been.

It was in that season of isolation and brokenness that I reached a turning point. Everything that once propped me up—achievements, social circles, image—was gone. And in that emptiness, I turned back to God in a way I never had before. It was my Prodigal Son moment. I stopped hiding. I stopped pretending. I laid down the secrets and guilt and shame I’d been carrying, and I began to walk in a new direction.

Since then, life has continued to present its challenges, but I’ve also experienced more freedom, grace, and purpose than I thought possible.

The biggest change? My love for people. I used to seek approval; now I seek connection.
I used to need to be liked; now I want others to know they’re not alone. Because I know what it feels like to walk through the valley, and I believe none of us are meant to do that alone.