come-to-Jesus moment
noun
come-to-Je·sus moment
variants
or come to Jesus moment
plural come-to-Jesus moments or come to Jesus moments
: a moment of sudden realization, comprehension, or recognition that often precipitates a major change
Many patients emerge from illness having had a come-to-Jesus moment that reorients their thinking.—
James Hamblin
James Hamblin… I had … a come-to-Jesus moment with myself. I remember thinking, "What will you regret if you don't try?" So I went after my dream …—Dianne Derby
Dianne DerbyExamples of come-to-Jesus moment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My mother’s parking lot come-to-Jesus moment and subsequent Evangelical faith translated to an aversion to He-Man and The Smurfs (an episode featuring Smurfette and a Voodoo doll put the nail in that one).
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Masha’s come-to-Jesus moment culminates in the revelation that Helena, Zauberwald’s heiress and proprietor, is actually dead and has been all along.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Venis’ total indifference toward the chaos he’s caused, and his repudiation of responsibility for it, is completely in line with how Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and their colleagues responded to potential come-to-Jesus moments like the 2016 election or the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 31 May 2025
Several years ago, Graham had had something of a come-to-Jesus moment of his own after a promising relationship fizzled.
—Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024
Several are dubious if Mack’s come-to-Jesus moment in the car happened at all.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2024
There needed to be a come-to-Jesus moment recognizing everybody can’t do everything.
—Peter Biskind, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2023
After an entire season of buildup, Brooke and Cary finally have their own individual come-to-Jesus moments in the finale.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 29 June 2023
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Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Masha’s come-to-Jesus moment culminates in the revelation that Helena, Zauberwald’s heiress and proprietor, is actually dead and has been all along.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Venis’ total indifference toward the chaos he’s caused, and his repudiation of responsibility for it, is completely in line with how Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and their colleagues responded to potential come-to-Jesus moments like the 2016 election or the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 31 May 2025
Several years ago, Graham had had something of a come-to-Jesus moment of his own after a promising relationship fizzled.
—Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024
Several are dubious if Mack’s come-to-Jesus moment in the car happened at all.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2024
There needed to be a come-to-Jesus moment recognizing everybody can’t do everything.
—Peter Biskind, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2023
After an entire season of buildup, Brooke and Cary finally have their own individual come-to-Jesus moments in the finale.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 29 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Come-to-Jesus moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come-to-Jesus%20moment. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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