What I Learned at 22

Hi everyone! Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday and I wanted to do a post talking about my 22nd year of life and some of the things that the Lord has taught me. I feel like so much happened this past year and it’s crazy to think that it all happened in one year.

July of last year was very difficult. My brother was admitted to the hospital with a stroke due to a brain aneurysm. During that time, I felt so scared. I wondered why this had to happen to my brother and what God was doing. However, the Lord was so faithful during that time. So many people prayed for us and the Lord used so many people in our lives to encourage us. I witnessed first hand one of the miracles of the Lord as my brother’s aneurysm calcified in less than a week. The doctors could not explain it. God is the only explanation. God showed me that even in the darkest moments, He is still good and I can trust Him fully. I was also shown just how powerful prayer is. One day some people had a prayer day where people each committed to a specific hour to pray for my brother. It was so amazing knowing that so many people were praying right along with us and lifting my brother up to the Lord. My brother came home within a week, which is very rare for stroke victims. He is doing so well today and I am so thankful for my Lord and how He sustained us during that time. God is so so good.

In August, I started my first official job at an after school program. I had always been a full time student, so this was new for me. I was so nervous going into this job as I only knew one person. However, the Lord was so good in bringing me new friends through this job. Everyone I met was so kind to me, even though they had never met me before. I met some kind girls who love the Lord. I also met the sweetest kids at the school where I work. Getting to be around all the children for my job really made my day.

I also started my last semester of college in August. It was my first time being a part time student and with only one class in person, I was not on campus all that much my last semester, but I was able to be involved with one of my college’s student ministries again. When you’re in the midst of papers and projects, it can sometimes feel like college will never be over. However, it seemed like before I knew it, my last semester was upon me. It was bittersweet for sure. I was looking forward to not having homework to do, but I would miss my friends and my college ministry. Also, since I had always had school to work on, I was nervous about navigating post grad life where I would just be working. However, the Lord is so good and He walked with me through it all even when I had no idea what I was doing.

In December, I graduated from my university. It was such a wonderful day and being surrounded by my family who supported me through my college years was amazing. I am so thankful for my God who walked with me through it all and saw me through. He is so amazing.

As we rang in the New Year on January 1st, I think most of us were expecting 2020 to go a totally different way than it has so far. I know I was. March 11 I got a text from my employer saying that Field Day for my school was cancelled and that teachers would instead be training for distance learning. I think that is when everything going on with the virus hit me, although I did not know how much things would change even more after me. As I went home from what ended up being my last day of work on the 12th, I had no idea that schools would be closing for the remainder of the semester across the country and even the world.

I definitely have experienced many emotions during this time of quarantine. However, during this time when everything felt like it was out of control, the Lord reminded me that He is still in control. He is on the throne and as a Christian, I can find comfort in that truth. He has reminded me that though our world is filled with so much evil and brokenness, He hates evil and He is a God of justice. One day He will come back to destroy evil once and for all. That is what I cling to. He has also showed me again just how important prayer is and has showed me that He alone is all I need. He alone satisfies me and even when I stumble and fall into sin, He is always faithful to pick me up and forgive me, even though I don’t deserve Him. I am so thankful that He is my constant.

The Lord has showed me that even during my most difficult days, He will never leave me or forsake me. I can trust in His perfect plans. Going into my 23rd year of life, I don’t know what’s to come, but I know the Lord does. I cannot wait to see what year 23 brings and what God does.

These were some of the things that I learned at 22! Let me know how old you are and what God has taught you this year.

I hope y’all have a great day!

-Hannah