For the final blog of this series, I would like to focus on my faith.
I know I have written about my faith often, but that is because it is important to me. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Growing up, we didn’t go to consistently. When I was little, I can remember going with my grandmother. The first verse I memorized (Psalm 34:1-4) was at the Sunday School of her church. When I was in middle school, we were fairly routine in going to church. I went to Sunday School. I went to youth group. We all participated somehow. In high school we continued to go on a semi-regular basis and participate in the activities. It wasn’t until college, though, that I accepted Christ and truly began my journey of learning to understand why He created me.
What does all this have to do with my faith?
We never really discussed religion or faith at home. I didn’t understand that my parents had a deep root of faith until they had to call our pastor in the middle of the night to ask to meet us for prayer before we left to go to my grandparents. My grandmother had been admitted into the hospital for what would be the last time. We lost her two weeks later. I was eleven. At that time, I just thought my parents were doing what parents should do. Though they are quiet, I know today, my parents faith runs deep.
While there were multiple times between that night and college I “prayed”, I don’t think I fully understood what it meant to pray. It would take many years, many hard decisions, and many mistakes to understand that prayer and faith go hand in hand. I have seen the answer to too many prayers to deny faith or God exists.
My faith got me through some of my hardest decisions and life changes. Not everything was roses, but I made it through because of my faith. I trusted God to see me through. My faith is what helps me to teach with love. My faith is what gives me the desire to help others. My faith is what reminds me that the best is yet to come. My faith is the reason I understand my purpose in life; it’s the driving force for accomplishing it. My faith brought me to the point right now where I am able to sit here and openly tell you that it is the solid foundation I walk upon.
I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have my faith. I’m thankful for the One who created me and helped me to understand why there is a need for faith in one’s life.