Meet Katie
When Katie walked into Northridge on Easter morning, she knew immediately it was where she was meant to be. For years, she tried to reconcile her suffering alone. But, she finally felt calmed by the overwhelming presence that someone was protecting every one of her steps. Jesus ended up being the only person left to turn to in the middle of loss and mental health struggles. Katie’s story is a true testament to how God is sovereign over our deepest trials and can lead us to trust Him with all we have.
Faith Tested
Katie’s mental health was a struggle, even before the world deemed the loss of her dad as her greatest trial. It was unexpected and another circumstance for Katie to try to make sense of. Shortly after losing her father, Katie lost her job too. She found herself feeling lost and hopeless. It is in this season that she began to see God move mountains.
A Godly Confidant
Katie’s mom, Stephanie, never left a conversation without reminding Katie of God’s presence and urging her to pray. Stephanie is Katie’s confidant, encourager, and example of Christ. In Katie’s darkest season, her mom’s reminder to pray began to stick. During this time Katie started searching for a new job and realized that the more she talked with Jesus and trusted Him, the more He answered.
Revelation Through Resurrection
Everything felt different that Easter morning because Katie finally saw how God loved her in each event that led her here. This belief began to change her mindset and her capacity to handle her anxiety and depression. She was more powerful mentally than she ever believed she could be. Prayer became her anchor throughout the day. Now, she prays for the whole salon where she works, the job which ended up being a perfect placement from God. When she doesn’t know what to pray, she says out loud, “Thank you, Jesus,” because she knows it is powerful.
A Transformed Heart
Katie would tell you that her life has not looked how she imagined. She would also tell you, “Things ended up being okay even if it wasn’t how I expected.” Her life has been transformed because she trusts God is orchestrating every aspect of her life and the lives of those around her. Her confidence in this truth leads her to pray without ceasing, bring up faith at work, manage anxiety, and see everything with an eternal perspective. Each time God nudged her, she listened. Her obedience led to her proclaiming her faith at open baptism and sharing her story here. When the world sees Katie, they don’t see her struggles; they see the faith and trust that brought her through them.
