Prayer is something that has marked my life, even from the very beginning when my parents’ church rallied together to pray for me. When I share my story, I like to start when I was born, because that is truly a miracle. I was born at 24 weeks and weighed 1 pound 7 ounces. In the five months I was in the hospital, I almost died a couple of times and had other complications after going home. This rough start reminds me that the Lord saved me for a purpose.
I accepted Christ when I was young, maybe around seven years old, through my Sunday school teachers and parents telling me about Jesus. I knew that I was sinful, even at such a young age, and that I needed saving. I believed Jesus died on the cross and rose again, and that by believing in him I could live with him forever and have a relationship with him. I am thankful God led me to faith at a young age and has helped me grow ever since.
One thing I appreciated about the Lord is that he was a friend I could talk to. Growing up, I didn’t have many friends at school, so I often felt lonely and like I was on the outside. I prayed for deeper friendships often, and though I didn’t see a direct answer to that during those years, God has been so faithful and kind to provide that later in my life.
My parents divorced when I was in ninth grade, which was extremely difficult, unexpected, and confusing. Through that, I learned that no one is immune to any kind of sin. I grew fearful, not wanting their story to become mine. As I heard over the years about the downfall of others’ marriages, the fear continued to grow. I sought control by scripting scenarios in my head, oscillating between idolizing a perfect marriage and worrying about the future – neither of which was healthy. I wondered how I could trust God with my future when it might crumble. As I got older, I also struggled with contentment in singleness. I knew that only the Lord could satisfy me and that he was sufficient, but there was a mismatch between what I knew cognitively and what I believed in my heart.
Through Re:generation and community, the Lord worked in me. God showed me that I don’t have to fear or avoid suffering because he is present in it. Suffering provides opportunity for growth in him, and growth is a good outcome. I often sought perfection in myself, my circumstances, and others, but I learned that even when we and others fail, the Lord is faithful to sustain and bring us through. That is something I can take comfort in rather than dreading future circumstances.
I started coming to Watermark in 2014 and quickly got plugged in. Though I had grown up in church my whole life, I had never experienced community like at Watermark, where people regularly confess sin and are met with biblical guidance and encouragement. I felt freedom to share things in my own life that I hadn’t told others before. Over the years, God has provided my greatest friends through community groups: girls who know me fully, are here for me, care for me, and pray with me. That was a sweet answer to many years of prayer. I have also loved being part of a weekly discipleship group, as well as serving in Watermark’s anti-trafficking ministry, Reclaimed, where I have the privilege of praying for some of the most vulnerable in our city.
Passages of Scripture that describe the sufficiency of Christ and the glorious inheritance to come are my favorites. They remind me of the abundant gift I have in my relationship with him. Psalm 84 has been a lifeline for me this year. Verse 10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere,” and verse 12 says, “LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” This has reminded me that with God is the best place to be and that he can be trusted. When I reflect on God’s Word and the many prayers he has faithfully answered throughout my life, he helps me set my eyes on the heavenly realities that we have, which are so much greater than anything I might hope or plan for on earth.
Recently, God has answered prayers about my future in ways I didn’t expect. After 10 years as a full-time speech therapist, the Lord allowed me to go part-time so I could be in the Watermark Institute, a 10-month program of hands-on ministry experience and in-depth Bible instruction. It has been the most refreshing season yet. I am daily grateful to be surrounded by people who love the Lord, to spend more time in the Bible than I have before, to intern with our Additional Care ministry, and to learn from leaders in our church who constantly strive to live more like Christ. I praise God for this sweet season!