Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
In December of 2020, my grandpa unexpectedly passed away. This was the first loss I had experienced within my family. While grieving my grandpa's death, I also experienced feelings of anxiety towards finishing my college degree in the heat of the pandemic. I carried these feelings by myself and wondered if anyone heard my cries and felt my worry. Around this time, I began to attend The Crossing with my now fiance Matt. The first in-person service I attended was about death and grief. I felt as if God was speaking directly to me. He heard me and He listened. He was there to carry the weight of my grief and anxious feelings so I no longer had to.
Over the next two and a half years, I continued to grow in my relationship with God. I experienced His goodness in more ways than one, and I remained persistent on my journey in discovering what a life with Him is like. This June, I decided to get re-baptized to honor my new profound relationship with God. Although I was baptized as a baby with the guidance of my parents, the relationship I have with God now is one that I have sought for myself. I have learned what it means to live a fulfilling life in Christ. I have learned how to pray boldly and to continue to come to God with my questions, worries, and doubts. It has brought me much peace to know that I can lay all of my troubles on Him, and He will continue to love and comfort me.
