And just like that, freshman+sophomore year is done! This semester has truly been filled with so many blessings and opportunities that have blown my mind and wildest expectations. It really has been amazing, and having been home for a few days, I miss Liberty already.
But I didn’t start my semester feeling that way.
At the end of Christmas break, I remember dreading this semester and crying to my mom, wondering if I had actually made any real friends. It’s amazing how God can really turn things around for the better.
At the beginning of the semester I had been praying about whether or not to seek out applying for a leadership position on my hall. As I had been praying, I felt God impress upon my heart that He is the God of immeasurably more and to do ministry without title. I ended up not getting the leadership role, but I’ve never felt so blessed by a “no” from God than I had in that moment. Because in the, “No, not yet,” from God, a new dream was placed in my heart for a type of Bible study for the next fall, based around gathering girls together to build a daily habit of being in the Word.
As a result of not getting the leadership role, I was placed into a new community group where I had the absolute privilege of becoming friends with my CGL Camille and a girl named Emily who would become one of my close friends and future roommate. Through Emily and Camille, and the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart, I was able to open up more to my hall and make even more friends as well.
I also started going to Thursday night meetings (Leaders In Training, LIT) held by my amazing RA’s on the hall and got to know even more girls better, and my RA’s too.
As for career/major, I doubted if interior design was the degree for me and if I would even be good at it at all. However, this semester has really opened my eyes and heart through all the amazing experiences I’ve had in my field through my FACS 240 (concepts in interior design) class.
When I say that God is the God of immeasurably more, I’m not kidding.
In my very first real interior design class, I was able to learn so much about my field, and how it’s so much more than just making things look aesthetically pleasing. There’s a huge technical/architectural part of it that’s so interesting to me and how all these little details and building codes and such can really make a difference in the lives of others. Interior design can be so empowering in the lives of others, especially through the field of universal design, which refers to the design of spaces to be able to be used by all people.
One area in particular that I believe the Lord put on my heart is ADA compliant design. I say this next bit not as a testament to my own doing, recognition, or pride, but just to glorify God and rejoice in him being able to use me.
This semester in particular I’d noticed that coming from the library side towards my dorm there wasn’t a readily accessible handicap ramp, and anyone with a disability requiring a wheelchair would have to go incredibly out of his or her way to enter the building. (See picture below)
I had noticed this for a bit, but I believe the Lord put me in a place to do something about it when I saw a young man in a wheelchair headed towards the library side of campus from the dorm and there wasn’t a ramp for him to use so he struggled down this muddy grass hill (it was raining) and got stuck in the mud briefly before he was on his way to classes. I felt a pang in my heart from the Holy Spirit so deeply, and a voice inside me saying, Sarah, that is so wrong. You need to do something about it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for the rest of the day, and when I got back to my dorm room, I cried because it broke my heart so much to see one of God’s children not being honored through improper design.
Still not sure what to do, I waited for a few days and thought that maybe it wasn’t for me to do something, but then I felt again, Sarah, you need to say something. So that afternoon I got the personal cell number of the campus pastor from my brother, and texted him this whole big long message about adding a handicap ramp to Commons 3 (my dorm). To my pleasant surprise, he texted back and said that he would pass it along to the head of construction. At this point I did all that I could, and I hoped that the Lord would honor that and work through me in some way.
A few weeks passed and I didn’t think much of it for awhile until I came back from spring break, and lo and behold I see a brand new handicap accessible ramp built on the side of commons 3, making the dorm so much more accessible now. My heart was so filled with joy to see the small seed that the Lord had planted in my heart become a reality, and a reality that can empower and improve people’s lives.
About a day later, I was leaving my dorm and I saw the same young man in the wheelchair that I had initially seen weeks ago with some of his friends on skateboards this time. Instead of slipping down a muddy hill, I saw him rejoicing with his friends, and little did he know that I who had seen him weeks ago was standing there unnoticed as he shouted out loud “Thank you Liberty for building a ramp!!”
(See picture below of the new ramp. Not pictured, but the ramp continues to a set of doors further left)
I didn’t, and still don’t need any recognition from that, and hearing that was enough.
Sarah, do ministry without title.
A few other opportunities I’ve had this semester through my degree program were going on a trip to High Point Furniture Marker, and collaborating with the Law School to design an improved faculty lounge as one of my final projects as a group.
He really is the God of immeasurably more.
But one thing I have to remember is not to lose sight of Him on the mountaintop as I see all the beautiful things that He’s done for, in, and through me. Because in the end things are just things without the One who brings meaning, purpose, and eternity to my life.
As I end my year, I’ve been seeing the passage in John 15 quite a bit. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
All my accomplishments, all the wonderful things I’ve done and seen are nothing when compared to the ultimate glory that is Christ.
I say this to myself and to anyone reading this, but don’t let your mountaintops become dangerously distracting. Don’t forget the One who brought you there, the One who will bring you through your next valleys and mountaintops to come.
He is worth it. He is always good and infinitely, immeasurably more.
Abide in His strength and goodness.
Thank you God for this year. Thank you for your character above all else.
Hallelujah.
(John 15:5; Ephesians 3:20)
sarah's heart 