God Found Me in Hollywood
Walking into the Hollywood party, I knew I’d made it.
I was stick-thin after months of eating air for breakfast, my open-backed designer dress fit in well with the ornamental crowd, and my Mercedes-driving boyfriend was at my side with a big smile on his face. I had taken a shot or three prior to arriving, and I was ready for a night of enjoyable escapades. Only, something wasn’t right, deep in my soul. However, I couldn’t be missing a thing, as I’d checked all the boxes MTV had taught me growing up. I’d made it… right?
Wrong. My ghostly thin figure, spawned by diagnosed anorexia, was killing my body. My designer clothes were causing a rift between me and my parent’s through the credit card they’d given me for emergencies. My boyfriend, although incredibly kind, wasn’t leading me in purity. I was right where I wanted to be – smack dab in the sparkle and glam of Hollywood – yet my spirit felt wrong. How could this be? What was I missing?
24 hours later, I found out.
As a member of Pepperdine University’s Alpha Phi sorority, I mentioned to one of my sister’s at Sunday night Chapter how something felt off; I shared how I felt like a tetherball flying all over the place, unsure how to stop.
This particular sister, a Christian from childhood, promised she knew the cure. She invited me to join her for a night church service at our campus chapel right after Chapter, and I accepted.
We arrived and sat in the front. There was a pastor who preached, there were songs sung, and there was eucharist eaten. I don’t remember the sermon, the songs, or the shape of the bread. I do, however, remember Jesus hitting my heart stronger than a shooting star.
In a moment, He was no longer a picture on a stained glass window or an abstract character I had mindlessly recited the ‘Our Father’ to; He became a real Being. He transformed from a concept to my Creator.
Leaving the chapel, I asked my sorority sister to help me accept Jesus fully, and she led me in a prayer to ask Jesus Christ into my heart, praying for His blood to cover my scarlet sins and turn them spotless as snow.
Within a few moments of giving Jesus my shaky, teary ‘yes,’ He gave me my first assignment: break up with that man. And boy oh boy, that was one thing I didn’t want to hear. However, I knew I’d be foolish saying ‘no’ to a request by the God of the universe.
I drove straight to his apartment, broke things off, and drove home with wet eyes and a heart feeling simultaneously empty and full. I had said ‘yes’ to Jesus, and I decided I wasn’t turning back.
Soon after, Jesus shared my next assignments to quit the partying and take care of my body, which He told me was a temple. With His help, and the aid of Godly girlfriends He brought alongside me, I was able to shift my life from broken to beautiful. I was no longer the old me; I was a new creation in Christ, allowing my life to be used as an offering for His plans.
Jesus shared these words in the book of Matthew:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
As a twenty-year-old college student, Jesus captured my shattered soul with His kind, gentle heart. Eight years later, I’m still enchanted by His goodness and grace. He delights in me, and I delight in Him; I am His beloved, the apple of His eye, and His precious girl. I am His, and He is mine.
And you, sister, are also His once you give Him your ‘yes.’ A ‘yes’ doesn’t mean you come to Him perfect; in fact, it actually means you come with the broken pieces of your life. But then, and only then, can He turn that shattered glass into a marvelous mosaic, shifting your former tests into a testimony.
Today, I know I’ve really made it – simply because of the cross of Christ. Have you?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paige Weslaski is the co-owner of Image Management, the founder & editor-in-chief of MilkNHoneyMagazine.com, and the author of various books – most notably, Finding Your Prince. She loves Jesus with her whole heart and looks forward to a lifetime of serving Him!