The day I met God started like any other day.

At 7:54 I woke to the sound of my alarm. An odd time, I know, but I’ve never been one to set alarms for normal times. Half-asleep, I began to type a paper I had due in two hours.

I went to class, washed dishes, took a quick nap, and went to another class. Then, I went back to my room where I anxiously waited for my meeting with a circuit rider. You see, I’m generally pretty introverted. Signing up to meet with someone I’ve never met is not something I would normally do. I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it was something I wanted to do.

While I grew up in a Christian home and attended a private, Catholic elementary school, I didn’t know for myself that God existed until my senior year of high school when a friend took me on a retreat with her during one of the most difficult times in my life. Prior, I didn’t truly understand. I had no reason to believe other than being told to. I didn’t have a reason for myself to believe. That retreat gave me a reason.

Afterward, faith wasn’t instantaneous. I knew God had to exist, but I wasn’t sure where to go or what to do. I went to church, read my Bible, and journaled prayers, but still felt lost in faith. I didn’t understand what God’s existence meant for me.

As the years passed by, I continued to live with uncertainty. It’s one thing to know something, but to truly believe it is an entirely different story.

Today, roughly three years and one month later of searching for answers, I met God. It was well worth the wait. I went and met with a circuit rider, which is a group based in California that travels to different campuses to spread the gospel.

We talked and shared parts of our stories. I was blessed with someone I could relate to. Someone that understood. So many things I didn’t even have to say. She just knew. What was supposed to be a 30-minute meeting ended up lasting over an hour. An hour of learning about how God’s love isn’t a blanket statement. God loves and cares for us as individuals. He loves me for me and you for you; His love isn’t just for the people as a group, but for each and every single one of us as individuals.

We closed in prayer. Afterward, she asked me how I felt. I honestly don’t remember what I said, but she then encouraged me to try something for her. She had me repeat after her. Then, we sat in silence. It was at that moment that I met God. He spoke into me.

I don’t quite know how to explain it, but it was so powerful to hear His voice. Thousands of questions I had about faith, how it works, and why things happen were no longer important. I can now honestly say that I truly believe in God. It doesn’t matter that there are still so many questions left unanswered because God loves me more than I can possibly imagine. He loves me so much that He died on the cross for me. Not only that, but He would do it all over again for me, and the same is true for you.

I left with an overwhelming sense of peace and a smile I couldn’t erase. Our God is so great.

Normally, if I can’t sleep it’s because my mind won’t stop running. Tonight, however, I can’t sleep because of peace, and it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.