But He said to me, "My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in difficulties. For when I am WEAK, then I am STRONG. (2nd Corinthians 12:9-10)

I was named after the song Amazing Grace, which was written after the grace God gifted the world with. His love has been extended all throughout the world, and we don't deserve it. We receive every sunrise and every star in the sky even though we forget to thank God for them. I was named Grace so that on one night as I was feeling like my grades weren't exceptional enough for scholarships and that I wasn't a good enough leader for my sisters and friends, I could be encouraged that I was enough for God. I am able enough and I AM enough. He showed me that through this Bible verse. God’s worked through me in so many ways, and it’s crazy to see now what I wasn’t seeing at the time.

I’ve been a Christian since I was a little girl. My family and my church has helped me love myself and genuinely love on the people that I’ve been so blessed with. Sometimes I want to be just like everyone else. But it’s draining to be something you’re not. It’s draining to feel as though everything you do is supposed to impress some guy, or your friends, or a university, or even your parents. It’s hard to stand out. But when you’re standing out, not for your own glory but for God’s, people notice. People are impressed. These last few months especially, I’ve come to realize that.

Everyday I’m blessed with the encouragement and joy that my loved ones offer. I have been blessed with a group of peers passionate about loving the life we’ve been given, and loving the one who gave it all for us. I’ve been blessed with the chance to meet so many people that I will always look up to. I’ve been blessed to hear everyday that I AM ENOUGH.

Reflecting on these last few years, I’ve found that God was there in every moment, both good and bad. The two things I’ve grown the most in this year have been prayer and hearing God. I prayed for God to give me a passion, something I would be interested in studying in college. I prayed for a higher ACT score. I prayed for relationships. My prayers weren’t answered in my timing. Rather they were answered in the perfect timing. God gave me a passion, but it’s not a major that the University of Nebraska at Lincoln offers. God did not give me a higher ACT score. And God is using my relationships to prepare me for the year ahead.

Next year I will not be attending college. I will not be doing what everyone else is, and at times I am still a little uncomfortable with that. God gave me the passion of serving others, of stopping sex trafficking and of providing clean water and food for malnourished children. God’s called me to give up my home, my time, and my comfort to get to know the world that He loves just as much as He loves me.

I’ve learned that God tells you things last minute. But He’s there the whole time through. God doesn’t want you to be like everyone else. You will have weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. But when you are WEAK, then you are STRONG. You are more than enough, because His grace is enough!