Yahweh’s Call for a New Encounter with Him

Lately, I’ve been thinking back to an encounter I had with God in 2012 when I was younger. 

Now in 2023, more than a decade later, I can only help to think that another distinct God encounter awaits me. 

My encounter with God in 2012 was a very definitive moment in my life. I just graduated from high school and this encounter was centered around a decision I had to make. When I had this encounter with God, I already visited all of the colleges and universities I was interested in and the time came when I had to make a decision about which school to attend. 

At that time, I felt this decision would impact the rest of my life and now looking back, I absolutely know that decision has impacted my life and continues to do so. My decision was pivotal and it has led to so many other things in my life. I knew I was going to need God more and more as I got older, and at that time, knowing that I was going to be out from my mother’s house living in another state – I just knew I needed God more than ever. 

My encounter with God in 2012 went something like this: I was in my room with the door closed. I was sitting on the floor with my back against the wall between my bed and dresser. Sitting upright, knees to my chest, arms hugged around my knees and there I was praying. Believing that God was hearing my prayers, better yet, believing that God was there in the room – listening. I talked with Him for some moments and then I became quiet – listening. 

The Lord gave me a vision of a large boat at sea with birds flying above the boat. Not knowing what this vision meant, I sat still, continuing to be open to what the Lord was sharing with me. After a few moments of this vision unfolding, the Lord drew my attention to the birds flying above the boat. And immediately, I felt a peace. The same peace that I felt when touring the university. That’s when I knew where God would have me to go: Kent State University. 

Kent State was the last school I applied to. I remember being exhausted from applying to schools, paying the application fees, and writing the essays. I recall one night as I was scrolling through my email inbox and I saw an email come in from Kent State. I never heard of the school before so I opened the email mainly out of curiosity but no intent to apply. 

After researching more about Kent State, I learned that it was one of the top schools in the region for architecture and that it was located in Ohio which was the furthest school away from my hometown. But there wasn’t an application fee and or any long essay prompts. I told my mom about the school and she encouraged me to apply because, why not? Since it was an easy application and I had my mom’s support, I applied and later visited the campus. 

The honest truth is: visiting Kent was unlike the other schools I visited. On the drive home from the campus tour, I told my mom that although this school is the furthest away, I think this is the school I would choose. Visiting the HBCUs were great, but at the time it was overwhelming for me and tuition was sky high. Kent State was the only school offering a financial aid package that made tuition reasonable. Besides the HBCUs, Kent was the only campus I visited where I saw other Black and Brown students. So I felt that there was a place for me there. 

During the campus tour, I remember feeling the presence and peace of God. This was the main difference that set Kent apart from everywhere else. Kent was the only place where I felt this spiritual tug. When God later confirmed to me that this is where I was called to go, it began to make sense. 

Ohio has a special place in my heart. It was in Ohio where I flew on many flights, met the love of my life, gained lifelong friends, discovered my purpose, served in ministry, joined a sorority (which I later denounced), lived on my own, went to counseling for the first time, and experienced many ups and downs. Most of all, I fell more in love with Jesus. 

Now over a decade later, I feel the Lord calling me to encounter Him in a new way again. So much has happened since 2012 and the Lord has been with me all the way. But somehow, I still feel like this call for an encounter is different. It feels like being called to a new level in God. 

If you believe in God, I encourage you to think back over your life. When was a moment when you realized God is real? Is God now calling you to a new level?