A Full Circle Story…

Sitting around a coffee shop table with three girls, I ask the question, “Why do you think all of our stories with Jesus began growing when we had hit a “rock bottom” in our lives?” “Because we begin to notice our need for him,” one girl responded, “before that time I was fine navigating life on my own.”

These girls’ “rock bottoms” varied– one being in the hospital for a suicide attempt, another one at treatment for addiction for a second time, and the third navigating the combination of anxiety and family brokenness. But in all their stories- Jesus met them and on this they could relate to each other. In reflecting about when she said “yes” to Jesus, Jessica* explained with a powerful example that when she was recovering from her attempt of suicide, Jesus physically met her in the hospital room, offering comfort and peace. This sure presence of Jesus has allowed her to heal from her mental illness and walk in freedom. Even though these girls’ rock bottoms vary, they undeniably know God exists and continue to be curious about his character.

We’ve been meeting consistently Friday afternoons for “Bible Study”, discovering for the first time for some of them, the true character of Jesus who meets us in our rock bottoms of life and continues to remain steady, even on the mountain tops. All three girls participated in a Full Circle Winter Retreat this past weekend as well, and began to dare to believe, their Heavenly Father’s thoughts towards them aren’t ones of ridicule, but of delight. Would you be praying for these three girls and other teens like them, that God would continue to reveal his TRUE character to them and they would encounter him in all circumstances of life?

Sara Miller
Full Circle Program Coordinator

*names are changed for privacy reasons and pictures are not directly related to story