Meet Marci Boyette
I was quick to raise my hand in Sunday school with the quintessential “Jesus” answer growing up. By the time I was in Junior High, I thought I’d figured it all out and graduated from the whole church thing ha! Even still, I struggled with my worth and was oftentimes anxiety ridden. I sought my value in the approval others— parents, teachers, coaches—really anyone who would give me .5 seconds of their time. I tried to earn the love of everyone around me—including God. Unknowingly at the time, I wanted to prove that I could earn my spot with God.
Much to my surprise, even after “achieving” many of these goals, I still felt discontent and disappointed. I didn’t understand. I got into the college I’d wanted and this was supposed to be the time of my life; and, yet I found myself struggling with loneliness, lack of purpose, and more questions than I had answers. In the midst of the tension, the question that kept popping up for me was—"what’s actually true?” In a world that was telling me to find my own truth and follow it, I wanted to know if there was a sure truth—even if I didn’t agree with it—that was out there. I had friends I loved with wildly different worldviews, and I knew based on the contradictions that we couldn’t all be correct.
In the meantime, I researched different religions and was invited to an on-campus Bible study at Texas A&M where I got to hear the good news that Jesus lived a perfect life that I could not, died the death that I deserved, and rose again taking away the sting of death once and for all. Jesus accomplished what I could not. Simply by calling on Him, his sacrificial gift covers me. I don’t get to earn it with Him. It’s counter-cultural to everything I was used to. A free gift? That was wild to me. Even still, I said “yes” to following Him.
When I think back to my freshman year of college, I didn’t have all the answers in order to say that initial “yes” to Him, but I knew enough to take my next step towards him and after walking with him for 7 years now, I can confidently say He’s GOOD. Better than I ever expected. In the mundane and mountain top moments, He’s near. He’s steady ground to stand on when my circumstances feel shaky.
Much to my surprise, even after “achieving” many of these goals, I still felt discontent and disappointed. I didn’t understand. I got into the college I’d wanted and this was supposed to be the time of my life; and, yet I found myself struggling with loneliness, lack of purpose, and more questions than I had answers. In the midst of the tension, the question that kept popping up for me was—"what’s actually true?” In a world that was telling me to find my own truth and follow it, I wanted to know if there was a sure truth—even if I didn’t agree with it—that was out there. I had friends I loved with wildly different worldviews, and I knew based on the contradictions that we couldn’t all be correct.
In the meantime, I researched different religions and was invited to an on-campus Bible study at Texas A&M where I got to hear the good news that Jesus lived a perfect life that I could not, died the death that I deserved, and rose again taking away the sting of death once and for all. Jesus accomplished what I could not. Simply by calling on Him, his sacrificial gift covers me. I don’t get to earn it with Him. It’s counter-cultural to everything I was used to. A free gift? That was wild to me. Even still, I said “yes” to following Him.
When I think back to my freshman year of college, I didn’t have all the answers in order to say that initial “yes” to Him, but I knew enough to take my next step towards him and after walking with him for 7 years now, I can confidently say He’s GOOD. Better than I ever expected. In the mundane and mountain top moments, He’s near. He’s steady ground to stand on when my circumstances feel shaky.