Finding Faith: Stories of women’s spiritual journeys
THE social media trend, “I didn’t meet God in a church, I met God when I was at my lowest and He was waiting for me to turn to Him…” resonates with a lot of people because it suggests that spiritual experiences and connections with a higher power are not limited to organised religion or specific places. For some people, meeting God came after a great loss, an accident, depression, or some other low point, when the only thing that kept them going, was hope.
“Many people are looking for a personal, authentic connection to spirituality that may not align with organised religious practices. This trend reinforces that one can experience divinity in nature, relationships, life challenges, or moments of personal growth—wherever they feel a deep, meaningful connection,” said counsellor David Anderson.
“Finding faith, whether in a higher power, oneself, or a set of values, provides a sense of purpose, hope, and resilience.”
The trend has struck a chord with many, including these women who found spirituality through personal discovery.
Imani, 45:
I re-discovered Him two years ago, not at church, where I was still attending occasionally even though I had backslid, but at 3:00 am one day, when I was lying in my daughter’s bed, begging Him to take me too, after losing her, and my father, in the same month. He spoke to me, I heard His voice clear as day, and He told me everything would be okay. I’d be lying if two years later it is indeed okay, or if I knew what kind of lesson I was to learn from all that pain, but life continues. My other children are happy and loved, and I feel a sense of calm. At my lowest, He showed up, and even though I still can’t understand the why’s I no longer question Him.
Kiara, 27:
I was in an accident on Melrose Hill in Manchester, where my car collided with a truck. I don’t know how I survived, but as I lay there, waiting to die, and hearing people talking about the “dead woman”, I just prayed. I prayed and promised God that if I survived this, I would be His. Bloody and broken, not many people were willing to help me, but there was one woman who came through, and she took me to the hospital. It was months and months to recovery, but today I am OK, and I have kept my promise to Him.
Rochelle, 41:
My only child cut me off, and at my lowest, I thought of just giving up, because she was, and still is, my everything. My entire life, for so long, revolved around her, so the separation has been extremely hard on me. I’d want to say that after I prayed for peace, and for the sadness to end, that when He allowed the sadness to end everything was OK, but it still isn’t. I still don’t have a relationship with my daughter, but God has granted me peace from the dark thoughts, so that I am able to get through each day.
Chantae, 33:
I met God on a doctor’s table, recovering from an abortion, and literally seeing the white light that comes with death. I heard His voice then. I then drove myself home afterwards, and I don’t know what happened, and what went wrong, but in the following weeks I almost died from what I suspect now was an infection or perforation. At a time when I had no business calling out to Him, He was the one who saved my life, I’m sure of it. It has been seven years, but everytime I think back on it, I realise what a crazy time that was.