And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Jesus (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

     It was the first day of my high school life. Being a freshman and a new student in this area, I felt lonely and frightened among the thousands of other students. There was no one I knew in this huge school. I struggled on my own. Even with a map clutched in my hand, I felt lost and confused. I longed to have someone to wave at in the hallway, to sit with on the bus, and to talk to during lunch.

     In the same year, I was also desperately seeking for the meaning of life. Unfortunately, I found none. Life to me was just another cruel game with suffering, misery, and death. Depressed and irascible, I lived each day with hatred and anger. I was a defiant and mean girl who often quarreled with my parents and wrangled with my brother. I complained frequently, firmly believing that life was inequitable and absurd.

     I had known God’s existence from a youth group in Michigan, but He had nothing to do with my life. At this lowest moment in my life, however, there was no one for me to turn to except for to Him.

     God has never forsaken me, even when He was still a stranger to me. He still loved me dearly and was waiting for me to return. After my despairing prayers, I immediately encountered new friends and no longer dreaded school. I felt His gentle hands leading me. Gradually, His love also cured my depression. In retrospect, God was guiding my way all along. He chose a house for my family that was right beside two very nice and devout Christian families. He knew how much I would love the Bible study groups in their houses and how much help I would need from them in order to comprehend His unthinkable love. Under the invitation of Mr. Han Kai, I came to CCUC, where I immediately fell in love with. I especially enjoyed the sermons of Rev. Chao, which were always interesting, humorous, and meaningful.

     “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,” St. Paul once wrote. (Philippians 3:8 NIV) Indeed, there is nothing more fulfilling than the knowledge of God and of His everlasting love. My perspectives and my life are forever changed. I have finally found my reason for living. It is to know God, to worship God, and to be with God. He places songs of praise in my heart. He brings me joy, laughter, and contentment. Looking around at the sapphire sky, the chromatic flowers, and all those other wonderful creations of my heavenly Father, I feel that nothing could ever go wrong again.

    I am about to embark on the journey of my junior year in high school. There will be difficult and sad times. There will be endless homework and sleepless nights. But I will never be alone in facing all the obstacles, for Jesus will be walking right beside me. Always.

      He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testing. When you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” (From Footprints in the Sand)