Cherished Living

How God’s Faithfulness Transformed My Life

Are three-year-olds really getting scholarships nowadays? No, but I was a unique case.

From a young age, my parents had connections with Liberty University. My grandfather founded a Christian publishing company, Destiny Image, that worked with and published one of Liberty’s founders. The values, environment, and opportunities that Liberty offered appealed to my parents even as my three-year-old self played with toys and watched Dora The Explorer. My path was set before me to attend and graduate from Liberty, or was it? 

My childhood was an absolute joy. I grew up in a Christian home surrounded by loving parents and a brother I consider one of my best friends. Being close in age, you would have likely found us playing Minecraft, sports, or making funny videos. Yes, I was a bit of a tomboy. Although I grew up Christian, my family did not usually attend church. My parents were hurt by multiple churches throughout my childhood, so eventually, we stopped going. I did not get a Sunday school understanding of who God is. I could not recite and recall multiple children’s bible stories, but God had bigger plans for me. 

It wasn’t until 7th grade when my best friend, still to this day, invited me to attend church camp with her. This place will forever hold a special place in my heart. Toward the end of the week, the worship leaders invited campers to either stay during the song Oceans or leave to go to the fire pit. This was my first encounter with the Holy Spirit. I began to weep in awe of who God is and what living for him meant for my life. My friend actually stayed with me, and we prayed together. My heart softened, my eyes opened, and my ears listened eagerly for the Lord. The song Oceans told me I could call upon the Lord, and he would answer and meet me where I was in any season of life. It said the Holy Spirit would lead and call me into places I never imagined. This song told me that no matter my mistakes, I am a child of the one true king. Little did I know the Lord had been refining and preparing me for my future. 

Let’s backtrack for a minute. Throughout middle school, I struggled with identity, people-pleasing, self-worth, and self-image. Around 6th grade, my mother, who struggles with mental illness, had to go away for a while to get some help. This was a tough time in my life. There was this yearning inside of me that desperately sought attention from boys, friends, coaches, and even my teachers. I was a people pleaser. I wanted to fill that void I thought was from my mother being gone with temporary things. Although, nothing was ever enough to satisfy me. I was always left seeking to be better in school and sports and a better friend to be liked by more people. This caused me to feel constantly disappointed in myself because I expected nothing less than perfection. 

So, back to church camp in 7th grade. I came home on fire for Jesus. I had just spent a week with the most incredible people who inspired and sparked a fire in my heart for Jesus. I was told that God loved me no matter my failures in life. I was reminded that God’s love is unconditional and not dependent on my abilities or faithfulness. God encompasses love, mercy, faithfulness, and cherishes me even when I feel at my lowest. However, the fire did not last long, causing my passion and eagerness to seek God to sizzle. I went back to my routine, going through the motions. My schedule consisted of school, sports, and hanging out with friends. Eventually, I was a freshman in high school, still going through the motions. I continued to struggle with identity, self-worth, self-image, and people-pleasing. 

One day, I was invited by a friend to attend Young Life on Monday night at 7:57pm. Sounds a little crazy, right? Or at least that’s what I thought. I heard rumors around the school that Young Life was some kind of cult or something. But I decided I had to determine that for myself. I am so glad I did because Young Life became my second home. My friends and I would attend every week and have the best time. We even ended up going to Young Life camp twice. If you ever get the chance, please go to Young Life camp because it will be the best week of your life. There was a time during the end of the week when they sent all 500-1000 campers to find a quiet place outside to sit and meditate in the presence of the Lord. I was never asked to meditate in God’s presence before. This was such a refining experience for me. The Lord revealed himself in more ways than I could even express. I was reminded again of who God is and that he never went anywhere; he was always with me. 

In my senior year of high school, my young life leader invited two of my best friends and me to do a bible study together. This was the first time in my life I was challenged to be consistent in reading my bible. I am not going to lie; it was a struggle for me to break my routine. It was hard to memorize scripture and prepare for bible study each week. I was always disappointed in myself and felt unworthy of God’s love. I struggled to believe that God would always forgive me for choosing so many other things over him. During this time of doubt, my leader had us memorize Galatians 2:20 and Revelation 3:20, still two of my favorite verses that I have studied and remember to this day. These verses are a constant reminder to me that I am a new creation in Christ. They remind me that the holy spirit lives in me, giving me discernment and the power to speak truth even when I feel inadequate. They remind me that God is always present even when I do not feel him there. 

By this point, the college search had begun, relationships came and went, and I still struggled with my identity. I had no idea where to go to school, what my major would be, and if I would continue my lifelong journey of athletics. There was a sense of peace I felt when making the decision to attend Liberty. I wanted to attend a Christian school that would open up opportunities for my future endeavors. Throughout high school, my parents encouraged me to look into nursing because I always had said that my passion was helping people. Since Liberty was known for its nursing program, I felt even more confident about my decision to go there. I ended up attending Liberty during my freshman year of college undecided. I took various classes to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. 

In the spring semester of 2022, I felt the Lord revealing that my college search was not over yet. My passion for people was growing into a passion for being part of an athletics community again. Given Liberty’s Division I status, I struggled with the next steps. Liberty was a lonely time for me, which is ironic given the size of the University. I called my mom multiple times daily because I struggled to find groups to fit into. Making friends growing up was never a problem because I am such an outgoing person. This is why my experience at Liberty was so hard; I struggled to find community. 

Around this time, I began falling in love with running and lifting again. One of my best friends from high school mentioned Messiah University’s Track and Field Team in February 2022, a few weeks after I suffered from a very harsh mono experience. If you know anything about mono, you would know that it is not fun. You have to stop playing any sports because your abdomen is very sensitive. So, I had to say goodbye to the one thing I was involved in at Liberty, an intramural soccer league. 

After many months of prayer and deep conversations with family and friends, I decided to try it and transfer to Messiah University. Two weeks before the semester started, I was accepted into the University, talked with the head of the track and field team, was officially invited to be a TFXC runner, and was placed in the last room available on my best friend’s floor that I grew up with. 

During my senior year of high school, I thought I would graduate from Liberty University as a nurse. But now I am a junior marketing Major at Messiah University, involved in an amazing faith community, and a runner on the track and cross country team. Messiah University challenged me in my faith more than any other season in my life and has given me amazing opportunities that I never would have gotten to do if it weren’t for God. In the fall of 2023, I was chosen from a large group of applicants to attend a Global church Visit through Messiah’s AROMA ministry. In August of 2024, I spent two weeks in Macha, Zambia, serving alongside a nonprofit organization striving to serve communities through our love of sport. We were also blessed with the opportunity to teach and provide water filters for a community with unclean water. 

Whenever I reflect on my life, I cannot help but point it back to God. None of these experiences and opportunities would have been possible without God. He continues to refine me, shape me, and restore me. Not only was God working in my life then, but he continues to work in me and through me every single day. Does this mean that life is all sunshine and rainbows? No. But I want you all to know that no matter what season of life you are in, God is working in you and through you. He has amazing plans for you even when you fail, even when you struggle, even when you feel ill-equipped. 

My favorite verse since I have been at Messiah is Ephesians 3:20-21. This reminds me that God is not done yet. He has so much more in store for me and you that we can never fully imagine or even fathom. How beautiful is it to have a God who cares so deeply for us? I pray that for the rest of my life, I can point others to Jesus by how I live through my actions and words. I hope my story will constantly point to the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness in all seasons of my life. 

“The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).