Beauty in Healing

“Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

-Matthew 11:28

Different people find healing in many different ways, although the most common thought would be through prescriptions. I mean, it’s sort of common sense to know that if you can get medicine, you will find healing. And I, by no means, am discrediting that notion.

But what do you do about emotional pain or spiritual hurt? Can I just ask for a dose of happiness or a worry-free serum?

I wish.

But among the copious healing solutions available, such as exercise, venting to loved ones, and the ever promising indulgence of chocolate, there is one that will work every time and provide a sense of healing like nothing else could ever match: time with the Lord.

“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.”

-Proverbs 4:20-22

The Lord makes it clear that time spent in His Word (as in just simply reading the Bible) and in His presence through prayer will give you healing spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

There is beauty in time spent with the Lord; beauty in healing.

Home: a take on my autobiography

Home.

There is such comfort in that one word.

Home is a place of security,

a place of serenity,

a place of sanctuary.

Born in Gainesville, but raised in a little town just North of this lively college city, I always thought my home would be found in the coziness of small town life.

My hometown provided for a typical southern upbringing: growing up in the church, learning to respect my elders, and, of course, my absolute love for corn nuggets and fried chicken.

In elementary school, I won my first speech contest and my passion for public speaking took root. Soon after, the thought of finding my home in a big city in order to become the next Megyn Kelly became my aspiration. And despite my comfort and love of being a small town girl, I started to imagine my life, and maybe one day my home, in a big city.

In middle school and high school, I signed up for organizations, took leadership positions, and volunteered in ways that I knew would help me reach my big city reporter goals. I was told more than once that I had the gift of capturing the attention of those around me, that I had “that radio voice.” And with each passing compliment, my ego only grew.

In high school, my life was radically changed: I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. The love of Jesus Christ changed every aspect of my life in one single moment, including all my hopes, dreams, and future aspirations.

I turned to the Lord to guide me in all my plans for the future, that they would no longer glorify me by showing off my gifts and talents, but rather glorify God!

My parents have always emphasized the importance of education. And being born and raised a “Gator,” I prayed for the opportunity to officially join the “Gator Nation” at the University of Florida. When I was accepted (Glory to God!) I didn’t hesitate to join the J-School as a Telecommunication major. And since my freshman year, I was given incredible opportunities to further my experience in this field, including reporting for WUFT-fm and UF’s Radio Reading Service for the visually impaired. I am truly thankful!

The University of Florida also gave me countless other opportunities and experiences, through organizations like the Pride of the Sunshine Marching Band and the Signing Gators club. When I look at my time at the University of Florida and see all I’ve been able to accomplish and how I have grown, I’m truly humbled! It was the Lord who made all of it happen!

As of right now, I have no idea what exactly my future holds except the fact that I have been called to the field of American Sign Language interpreting. I don’t know how to further that calling or where to start; I don’t know what I’m going to do once I graduate. Let’s be honest:

I am a simple college student and I don’t have it all figured out!

But I do have Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life and that’s all I need.

They say, “Home is where the heart is.”

That being said, my home is not a big city like I’d always envisioned; it is not a small town like I’ve always known; it is not even Gainesville where I have lived for the last 3 years. My home is where my heart is. And since my heart belongs to Jesus Christ, my home is in Heaven with my Savior.

“All I know is I’m not home yet, this is not where I belong.

Take this world and give me Jesus, this is not where I belong.”

-“Where I belong” by Building 429

Spring Break Rest

7 days. 168 hours. Paradise.

Every student anxiously awaits this precious week knowing, for some, their semester’s academic success depends on it. Students all over the country pack their bikinis instead of their books and head to the pool instead of their professor’s office:

SPRING. BREAK. 

Beyond the spring break parties and the pool time, beyond the sun and the sand, beyond the drinking and the dancing, the anticipation for spring break is the deep desire simply for relaxation, a brain break, if you will.

With weekly assignments and papers, not to mention various tests and quizzes every other week, it can oftentimes feel impossible to keep up with school demands. Then when you add a social life and personal time to this workload, it only becomes more chaotic.

It’s hard to simply catch a break and take a breather. It’s overwhelming.

So we count down the days to spring break, highly anticipating this much needed vacation for some much needed rest.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

If we simply take the time to feed our souls with the love of Jesus Christ through the comfort of His word, we will be at rest even in the midst of a crazy exam week.

There’s beauty in the desire for a vacation, for a spring break. And there's beauty in rest. 

Beauty in the Unknown

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.”

-Jeremiah 29:11

Surely one of the most overly quoted verses in the Bible. Even my eleven-year-old cousin can recite that verse! Unfortunately, it becomes all too easy to lose sight of its significance.

I mean, think about it:

The Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of the world has given each of us a beautifully unique future, designed just. for. us. We each have a purpose on this Earth that only we can accomplish. We are each an integral part of a bigger plan, like a small insignificant tile used to create a captivating wall mosaic. And yet, if one piece went missing, the mosaic would simply be incomplete. Our lives and futures are equally important, equally valuable, equally worthy, to God’s plan.

But what if something doesn’t go the way you’ve always planned? What if God has something greater planned for you? Something you’re not even aware of yet?

Conversely, what if you are absolutely positive what the Lord has called you to do but have absolutely no idea how to get there or where to start?

I’ve experienced both.

You see, my passion since I won the 4-H State Tropicana Speech Contest in fourth grade was public speaking:

the adrenaline rush,

the quick thinking,

the ability to capture someone’s attention-

Nothing made me feel more important.

I knew I wanted to be a broadcaster when I grew up, no questions asked. It was all mapped out: be admitted to the University of Florida. Graduate with a telecommunication degree. Work for the JoyFM…

…But the Lord had other plans.

In my past three undergraduate years, I have absolutely fallen in love with American Sign Language and the Deaf community. Never in a million years could I have guessed that the Lord would call me into the field of interpreting.

But where do I even begin? UF doesn’t offer anything in that field and my pride prevents me from transferring.

Lord, what the heck am I doing here? How is this part of my calling if I don’t even know what direction to take my first step?

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

                                                            -Psalm 119:105

Another overly quoted verse. I mean, what does that even mean??

Let me paint a picture: if you’re immersed in a sea of pitch black with the exception of a single lamp, you will only be able to see a small circumference around that light: just enough to see in order to take one single step.

And if the Lord is our lamp that illuminates just enough area for us to take that one single step, all we need is Him to guide us in the right direction that that one single step should be taken. And how do we get that guidance?

“Give us today our daily bread.”

-Matthew 6:11

The Lord’s Prayer - or rather a portion of it; Matthew 6:11 is rarely quoted without the whole prayer. Regardless, I stopped to consider what it even meant. Obviously it’s not referring to a real piece of bread. So what then?

The Lord will give us just enough daily wisdom and understanding-our daily bread-in order to take that one single step. We need only trust in Him and ask Him through prayer for that wisdom.

The Lord does that on purpose: what would be the point of illuminating our whole future? Where’s the fun in that? But really, where would trust come in? How could we lean on our God if He gave us all the answers straight up?

There’s beauty in the unknown. And there’s beauty in how the unknown becomes the known.

When I take a look at the crazy opportunities and experiences that the Lord has given me, I’m truly humbled. But beyond a humility check, I finally understand why I was given these opportunities and experiences: because they played a much bigger role in defining my future than I could realize at the time.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

-Romans 8:28