I was fourteen years old when the Lord intervened in my life. One of my closest friends at the time was going through a really hard time, and begged me to go to church with her because she hadn’t been in years, nor had I. I agreed to go with her, but on the inside I was extremely nervous. I stopped going to church two years earlier than this due to the fact that I felt different about it than I originally felt going there. It just wasn’t where my family and I needed to be anymore. I went to her church that night, about forty minutes from my home, and met people who were extremely different than the people I interacted with in my daily routine. They were all genuinely happy, hurting, but pushing on with so much strength. The whole place felt like home to me, I finally felt like I had found somewhere that I belonged, other than my home. Freshmen year of high school can be so scary, and full of emotion. But I was pulled in a direction that forever changed my heart, my mindset, my view on the world, etc.

God happened.

I always knew who He was, and that this strange male figure “loved” me, because that’s what my mom has always told me. But I never quite understood who this figure was, how he knew me, and why my mom stressed to me that if a day ever comes that someone asks me if I believe or love him, that I need to say yes. I never understood why my mom wept when she spoke of this person. I never understood why she became so passionate about someone whom she had never met, or even saw. I never really knew much of anything, other than what my Sunday school teacher taught me and what my mom taught me. Who was God? What was a “God”? Why should I never deny Him?

Then, God happened.

After a few months of going to this church weekly, I became obsessed. All I wanted was to go to church to worship the Lord and be with His people. I didn’t care if I went alone, if I went with the friend who originally brought me, or if I brought someone with me. I just wanted to be there. After what seemed like years, but was only a few months, I was ready to give my life to the Lord. So, I went up to the front of our youth service when the alter call came. I was nervous, scared, and shaking but I felt the Lord tugging at my heart and I knew it was time. I knew He had something to say. I can still remember it as if it happened yesterday. I stood in front of a bench at the front of the service, head bowed, eyes closed. I felt someone’s warm breath and shaky hands hold onto my elbows. They were mumbling in front of me, so I pinched my eyes shut tighter. After a few moments, the person leaned in and asked if I was ready. I said “yes” quietly. She paused. My palms became wet, my heart began to beat rapidly, and I started twiddling my thumbs to calm myself down. She told me He was waiting, and she said she pictured purple flowers in a field. That’s all I remember her saying until it was finished. In that moment, it’s like I entered a dream. I could see the purple flowers crystal clear. It was a field so big I couldn’t see the end of it, and it was covered in these flowers. In front of me, there was a perfectly cut sidewalk that looked like it went on for miles, untouched by gravity, and as white as snow. I walked down the path, and what I saw made me drop to my knees. I saw the world at my feet, a cliff-like setting overlooking everything. It was like I could see the whole world from that spot. Only, it was peaceful and quiet. It was just me there, but the Lord was there too. I could feel Him all around me, almost like I could see him. I snapped out of it, back to reality, at the alter call in my small church’s youth service. The girl in front of me who was praying had stopped. I felt so exhausted, yet so full of energy. She whispered, “are you okay?” and I couldn’t help but smile and laugh with all of the emotions I felt. I told her I felt amazing, and I explained what I saw. Her eyes brightened up, she smiled from cheek to cheek and said “what? Oh my gosh, Alexis. You did it. You’re saved.”

Because God happened.

Even in the midst of chaos, in times of heartache, in times of joy, He is there. He’s in the secret place waiting to meet with you. This is my story, my testimony, my relationship with the Lord. What’s yours?

Psalms 91:1-16 (KJV)