What God Did for Me in 2022

As we start 2023, I want to reflect and testify to what God did for me in 2022! I am grateful to God for bringing me through and blessing me the entire way through! So for this first post of 2023, I’m just gonna give God thanks for what He has done for me!

School Trouble

I would say that before I went to college, I had no real interest in getting to know God more, or in general, I had a pretty average life. I didn’t necessarily see miracles happen or even have faith in any, so I never felt the need to press in. Yes, I was a Christian and read my bible, but I had no idea what being a Christian actually meant until 2021.

To set up the story, I went to a private school in Tampa, Florida, and things were fine, but then there came the point where I could not afford tuition, and my dad refused to help me, and my mom couldn’t at the time. So, back in August 2020, despite not having enough to pay tuition, I flew on a plane to Tampa because I thought I was operating in faith, but I was not. I fell into fear plenty of times, not ever fully believing that God would actually pay my tuition. I would frantically ask Him all the time, where is the money? And this happened twice because after being kicked out of school in Fall 2020, I returned again in the Spring semester of 2021. Again, still didn’t have the money to pay tuition, but I thought, let me try this again. But back then, it was more of a “let’s see if God will pay it,” not “I know God will pay it”. There’s a difference; I had hope, not faith. I was hoping God would come through but had no faith that He would. This is why I was kicked out of classes and missed yet another semester.

I reapplied in March, but I had a hold on my account of $1,471, which I could not pay because I did not have a job. So, I was once again trying to believe God to pay for it. So, for Fall 2021, I sat out a third semester of school and just worked, but after giving up, I was curious about my school account balance. So, I signed into my school account and looked and saw that my balance was zero! I didn’t even pay anything but the hold on my account was gone, and I owed the school nothing! I am reminded of the verse Psalm 5:12, God’s favor surrounds me as with a shield. I certainly had God’s favor because that hold was on my account for months, and I had no idea how it would get paid; it just vanished! It dropped off my account and I am so grateful that God did what I couldn’t. I didn’t know how I was going back to school, but God made a way!

So, that leads me to my first testimony of 2022. Since the hold was gone, I decided to apply to UCF (University of Central Florida) since I could finally have my transcripts. I applied and got my acceptance around mid-December. I was so ecstatic and happy! I was finally going back to school in the Spring of 2022 after trying for three semesters to get back. And I credit it to the fact that for 2021 I really pressed into God. I read my bible, prayed almost daily, built my faith, and engaged more with God. Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” I sought the Lord, and I remember telling Him repeatedly that school is a good thing and I am not permitted to lack any good thing. God never allows His Word to return to Him void, so He honored His Word by making a way for me to get back into school.

Additionally, with going back to school, I was granted a non-resident waiver worth $5,500, and I had about $3,000 worth of financial aid, which brought my overall tuition to just $1,100. And thankfully enough, my dad no longer refused to pay my tuition and gave me the amount I needed. God opened a door, and I am so thankful that He did! He knew that going to school was my heart’s desire, and He gave it to me. Psalms 37:3-7 says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him” And that is what I did; I delighted myself in God in 2021 and trusted in Him, and He gave me the desires of my heart in 2022. It’s important to plant seeds because you will receive the harvest! God saw my diligence towards Him and rewarded me for it! So, don’t take seeking the Lord lightly; God sees you and is ready to reward you! Since returning to school in Spring 2022, I haven’t missed a semester!

Vaccine Who?

In January, my job, Nike, said Osha had put out a vaccine mandate for all companies with 100 or more employees. Even though my particular store didn’t have more than 100, Nike as a whole did, so my job said to remain working there; you needed to be vaccinated or have accommodation. I personally disagreed with forced vaccines, so I opted for accommodation. At first, I started thinking of other ways to make money, but then I just started praying against the mandate. And I know that many Christians started praying against vaccine mandates during that time. After a couple weeks, the vaccine mandate was never mentioned again and never went into effect! So, rather than sitting here wondering how else to make money, God answered many believers’ prayers, and I could keep my job without being forced to take a vaccine! The prayers of the righteous availeth much! So I was grateful! Don’t take prayer lightly, it works, and you must recognize its power!

Moving

In April 2022, I sowed $1,000 to the Lord, believing for three things, a nice place to move to, a car, and my tuition to be paid for the summer and fall semesters. I believed God would provide all the funds needed for everything I needed! So, before I moved, I lived in the hood, and I am not gonna sugarcoat it. I was in a place where they sold crack in the neighborhood; it was roach-infested, with termites, mice, and no washer machine or dryer; it was the hood hood! So, I prayed heavily over my next place, that it would have no critters, there would be a washer and a dryer, and in a nice area. Now, my roommates and I had trouble finding places to live and got scammed a few times, but finally, we submitted an application to a particular apartment complex. I knew we didn’t meet all the requirements, but I had the faith to submit it anyway. They approved our application within three days, and we could move in within the week! I was so excited; the only thing was we never saw it in person before applying. So, I had no idea what the place actually looked like. Naturally, I was a little concerned because I had come from such a bad neighborhood and had an exhausting apartment hunt; I just wanted something good. But I trusted God that He answered my prayers about this apartment, so I told myself to stop worrying about it.

It finally came to move, but I was still a little nervous due to all the scams in the back of my head. However, once one of my roommates and I arrived, signing the paperwork and getting into the apartment went smoothly and fast. And oh, what an upgrade it was! It was recently renovated, with marble counters and stainless steel appliances, no roaches were crawling on the counters, and it had a nice spacious living room! Oh, and a washer and a dryer! And it was in a nice neighborhood, with families and no drugs around. I was so grateful to God! He answered my prayers, and I didn’t even see the place. Plus, to top it all off, I got the master bedroom with my own bathroom! God certainly was thinking about me, and I was so happy to be in a place that looked like God was involved. People come over and will comment on how nice the place is, and I am just so grateful to God for blessing me. So, it just gives me faith for when I have to move again; I am currently believing to have enough money to live on my own in an even nicer apartment, and I know He will come through for me!

The Car Ordeal

Since I moved, getting a car was a big deal because my sister and I shared a car, which I hated. Mainly because the car was more so hers, and I could never use it the way I wanted to or even needed to. I wanted the freedom that came with being able to go where I wanted when I wanted. So, I told my older sister, when she first moved to Florida, I’m getting a car this week. I declared it in faith, and ‭‭Job‬ ‭22‬:‭28 says, “You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.” With that verse backing me up, and a couple others, I started to believe for a car. So, I went online and searched for some dealerships and composed a list of three I wanted to go to.

On a Wednesday, my roommate and I went to two car dealerships. The first one we went to was called Driver’s Mart. We looked at a couple cars, but when it came to the deal and the financing, I did not like my terms. Also, I was believing to get a car with no money down. I had good credit, but I did not have the funds to put any money down at the time. However, I did not have enough credit history, so the terms I received were not great. So, off to the second dealership! At this dealership, this salesman could talk and talk so much that I was under the impression that I got a new 2023 car. I remember hearing God say, “wait,” but I didn’t listen because I thought it was the enemy trying to take away my blessing. I was about to get a car I had desperately wanted for so long, but later I discovered that that voice was indeed God.

I didn’t leave with the car because it was being shipped to the dealership. Now, this was very inconvenient because I had started school, my sister lived 30 minutes away from me and always had the car, so I was essentially stuck. It took about a week and a half for that car to get to the dealership after them telling me it would take just a few days. So, after waiting and worrying for what felt like forever, I finally got the car! I was so happy, but deep down inside, I knew something wasn’t right, and I never felt true peace with that car. We never officially signed paperwork or financed the car, my credit was being checked like three times a day, and I was confused; I thought I had the car and all was well.

Turns out I did not have the car for real. I had it for fake because when they called me to fill out paperwork, I felt really uneasy about returning to the dealership. Yet, I went, and their whole story changed; I needed a co-signer even though before, I didn’t. I still needed to be approved, even though they said I was, I was supposed to be paying $474, but instead, I was now going to pay $535. They just lied to me from the start, but for me needing a car, I still took the terrible deal. They wanted me to sign for my dad, but my dad would disagree, so he called them. I don’t know what was said, but after having the car officially for one day, I had to go back. They canceled the deal and had to take back the vehicle.

I was devastated. My own car was something I had wanted for years, and I finally had it, or at least I thought I did. But it was my mistake because I didn’t ask God about this matter. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” I didn’t acknowledge God when it came to this specific car and dealership and was suffering the consequences. I was so hurt about losing the car, but I decided to try again. Now, it didn’t seem likely because my credit dropped due to all the credit checks, and I had no money to put down. However, I was going to believe God again for a car and do it the right way.

I decided to go back to Driver’s Mart, I had talked with one of the sales representatives about the vehicles they had, and they told me all I had to do was come in and sign paperwork. It was indeed a blessing because I could use my good credit score; they didn’t have to recheck my credit because my report was less than 30 days old, and before I even came, I was already approved for a loan! So literally, all I had to do was sign paperwork with no co-signer! The process was so smooth and easy, and I felt at peace. That is a significant indicator that something is of God, having peace! I had no peace with the other car, but with this one, I felt it was right, and I actually heard God tell me that the car I test-drove was “my car.” So I am so grateful to God that He worked it out in my favor! Romans 8:28 reads, “and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I certainly saw that work out in my life concerning my car, and I’m so happy God made a way for me!

School…Again?

Before starting this last section, I also want to praise God for providing me with a new laptop. My old laptop was 6 going on 7 years old, and it had a cracked screen, the screen would turn purple, and I couldn’t use it the way I wanted to. I was in school, so having a functional computer was essential, especially with the blog. So, it was annoying because I could barely see anything on the screen when I tried to work.

Remember the non-resident waiver I received? That, coupled with financial aid, overpaid my tuition, so I received a refund of $1,000. And that refund came into my account the day before my old laptop completely died and wouldn’t charge. So, within 24 hours of my computer dying, I got a new one! God is constantly providing for me. Everything I need, He provides! ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” And God has certainly done that! I lacked nothing!

So, moving along, my tuition was never paid when I took Summer classes in 2022. So, I had yet another hold on my account, and this hold would prevent me from registering for Spring 2023. This time, however, I told the devil no! He would not steal a fourth semester from me, so I took it up in prayer! Mark 11:24 Jesus says, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” So, I believed my tuition was paid; I said every day it was paid, I thanked God every day that it was paid, and I believed in what I said! I spoke to that mountain and demanded that it be moved! I wasn’t taking no for an answer, not this time; I had a different kind of fight in me this time. I wasn’t giving up! ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” I was determined to reap, so I did not lose heart.

In November 2022, I went to Colombia with one of my older sisters. We had to drive to Miami for our flight, so we had plenty of time to talk. We don’t see each other often, so we were just updating each other, and I told her about school and the tuition thing, but I kept saying, “I don’t know how it’s going to get paid, but it’s paid” I never changed my confession. And that is vital when it comes to faith; you cannot change your confession. You must stand firm in what you say, be unwavering so God can work on your behalf! James 1:7 says about a man with wavering faith, “let not [him] suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” It’s crucial to be stable-minded; it will do wonders for you!

Once the trip was over, I went home and went about my life, still believing for tuition to be paid. Then one morning, my sister called me, saying it was important. I called her back, and she told me she would pay my tuition. I just started grinning and smiling, and then I cried. God answered my prayer, just like He said He would! I was so grateful; the devil was unable to steal another semester. I told him I was going to school semesters back to back to back, and look! My fourth semester in a row, I start school again on Monday!

I can’t even explain how grateful and happy I am. God has been soooooo tremendously good to me, and I cannot thank Him enough! Just writing this reminds me of His goodness and that there’s no use in doubting Him; He has been there for me through thick and thin and has constantly elevated me! ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭1‬ says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” That was the purpose of today’s blog: to thank God and let everyone know what He has done for me. If He did it for me, He could do it for you! Believe and don’t doubt, stand on the Word and be unwavering. God will come through for you! All you need is faith! Don’t give up because God has great things in store for you in 2023! I hope this helped, and God bless!