God is so good! I just have to give Him some praise right now.
Back in April, I prayed for a friend of mine that I met last semester in my grad school program. She seemed stressed, weary, and depressed most times that I saw her. We had a class together, and we always sat together and talked before class started, so she would tell me things that were going on (mostly bad). Anyway, she and I were studying together for the final exam, and somehow we got off on a serious tangent (doesn't that always happen when studying, or is it just me?), about whether people could really study evolution, agreeing that evolution is not prove-able. But then she said something along the lines of "religion is not a real thing; it's definitely made up." But the thing is, she was writing her final paper (yes, we had a final exam and a final paper for that class...because apparently one or the other wasn't enough...but I digress) on religion and how people use it to cope with stress. So I was like, "Girl. No it's not. You can study religion. You're doing your paper on it, aren't you?" She conceded the point and we went back to studying.
Anyway, later that night, I felt the urge to pray for her. So I decided to pray that she would know that God is real, know God Himself and have a relationship with Him. And that He would comfort her, because "there is always something with her" (my actual words to God in my journal).
Fast forward through the end of the semester, past the summer, to this semester: she and I didn't have a class together, so we didn't see each other much, but I somehow managed to see her whenever she had an exam coming up. So I always wished her well and asked her how it went after. After one of her finals, I asked her how it went over text message and she said she thought it went well, "Praise God." So I was happy to read that, but at the same time, I realized anyone can say something like "thank God" in a moment of relief. So part of me had hope and the other part of me took it with a grain of salt, to be honest.
Nevertheless, it was a start. I texted back, "Amen!"
That was three weeks ago. Tonight, she poured her heart out online, saying that for years she had been depressed and felt distant from God before. She said she started reading a Christian book on depression to help, and realized she needed to be open with God. So last night, she prayed, and opened her heart to God! She asked others to pray for her as well. Her New Year's resolution is to restore her relationship with God!
So it was pretty clear to me after reading that, that she indeed had found Him (again).
And now I'm elated! God came through! (I knew He would, but seeing it like this still thrills me.)
Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you guys. I'm bringing in the year with praise in my heart. I can imagine you all are as well.
Please feel free to share some praise in this thread too if you'd like. I'd love to hear about it and rejoice with you.
Back in April, I prayed for a friend of mine that I met last semester in my grad school program. She seemed stressed, weary, and depressed most times that I saw her. We had a class together, and we always sat together and talked before class started, so she would tell me things that were going on (mostly bad). Anyway, she and I were studying together for the final exam, and somehow we got off on a serious tangent (doesn't that always happen when studying, or is it just me?), about whether people could really study evolution, agreeing that evolution is not prove-able. But then she said something along the lines of "religion is not a real thing; it's definitely made up." But the thing is, she was writing her final paper (yes, we had a final exam and a final paper for that class...because apparently one or the other wasn't enough...but I digress) on religion and how people use it to cope with stress. So I was like, "Girl. No it's not. You can study religion. You're doing your paper on it, aren't you?" She conceded the point and we went back to studying.
Anyway, later that night, I felt the urge to pray for her. So I decided to pray that she would know that God is real, know God Himself and have a relationship with Him. And that He would comfort her, because "there is always something with her" (my actual words to God in my journal).
Fast forward through the end of the semester, past the summer, to this semester: she and I didn't have a class together, so we didn't see each other much, but I somehow managed to see her whenever she had an exam coming up. So I always wished her well and asked her how it went after. After one of her finals, I asked her how it went over text message and she said she thought it went well, "Praise God." So I was happy to read that, but at the same time, I realized anyone can say something like "thank God" in a moment of relief. So part of me had hope and the other part of me took it with a grain of salt, to be honest.
Nevertheless, it was a start. I texted back, "Amen!"
That was three weeks ago. Tonight, she poured her heart out online, saying that for years she had been depressed and felt distant from God before. She said she started reading a Christian book on depression to help, and realized she needed to be open with God. So last night, she prayed, and opened her heart to God! She asked others to pray for her as well. Her New Year's resolution is to restore her relationship with God!
So it was pretty clear to me after reading that, that she indeed had found Him (again).And now I'm elated! God came through! (I knew He would, but seeing it like this still thrills me.)
Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you guys. I'm bringing in the year with praise in my heart. I can imagine you all are as well.
Please feel free to share some praise in this thread too if you'd like. I'd love to hear about it and rejoice with you.