Katie’s Story

I have always been very firm in my faith. I was adopted at birth and have an amazing family of strong spiritual leaders. They helped lay a strong foundation so that when I went to college and “went a little astray,” I didn’t stray far. 

Growing up, I had a lot of exposure to service and leadership—serving the homeless, going on mission trips, & attending leadership conferences. Going to college, I thought I’d naturally find a church and stay connected—but it wasn’t that simple. Looking back, I realized that this was the first time in my life where I didn’t know anyone else and the insecurity of that made it difficult for me to connect with others or attend church on my own.  

I met my husband in 2006 right after starting college. Our relationship quickly became a security blanket. He and his roommates drank a lot, and I slipped into the role of caretaker—convincing myself it was just typical college life and that things would change with time. His promises to change were a constantly moving target—from after graduation, to getting married, a job, a house, kids, etc. 

Meanwhile, I tried my hardest to manage his choices, convinced I could fix him on my own. If I just loved hard enough, he would be motivated to change. I isolated from friends and family because I was disappointed in myself and thought I was protecting him by keeping his drinking a secret. 

In 2017, I began to prioritize community; this was a turning point for me. God gave me clarity about finding purpose in our pain. If I could find a way to honor God and encourage others struggling with similar issues, then God would give me the strength to persevere. 

In 2020, my husband realized he needed help and chose to seek treatment. The drive to the treatment center was filled with hope, uncertainty, and a lot of prayer.

Eventually, we visited CrossCreek Church in Colleyville, TX and it quickly felt like home. For the first time in my adult life, I began attending church regularly—not out of obligation, but from a deep desire to grow.

In January 2024, things at home started to feel off. By Spring Break, I felt like I was living in an alternate reality where nothing made sense. I felt like God had forgotten me. I prayed, read my Bible and sought counsel from mentors, but His direction felt silent, and I doubted my own discernment. I remember driving to the church office to ask about counseling and praying God would place someone there that I knew (at this point, I didn’t know very many people here). But God heard me. He placed an old family friend at the front desk that day who didn’t usually sit there. That answered prayer meant the world to me. He saw me, He knows me, and He cares. 

I threw myself into deepening my relationship with the Lord and began processing the new and old trauma I had carried for years. For the first time, I felt grateful for the hardships of the past that gave me the courage to speak up when I knew that something wasn’t right. I struggled with confusion; I could see glimpses of God’s movement in our lives, but it was shadowed by so much chaos that I knew wasn’t from Him. 

I remember coming across Isaiah 41:13, which says: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” ‭‭This verse helped me to visualize the Lord holding my hand throughout all of my pain and struggles. I can’t see Him, but He’s there and He’s got me. 

I felt the Lord calling me to community and soon found Re:Gen. I came in hopeful that we would both find the healing that we needed. I wanted the Lord to bring me clarity and peace, and either mend my struggling marriage or make it clear that a change was needed. 

Around Step Three, I shifted my focus from my marriage struggles to better understanding myself and the Lord.  I challenged myself to really analyze every aspect of my life and thoughts while going through the workbooks. I began to see patterns in my life that I needed to surrender—including my husband, my insecurities, and my tendency to care too much about others’ opinions. When my husband stopped coming, I was scared and unsure of what our future looked like—but I kept showing up because I knew I still needed healing, regardless of what he chose.

I never expected pride to be one of my struggles, but I’ve come to see how it prevents me from hearing the Lord. It shows up when I don’t fully trust Him and feel the need to take matters into my own hands. It feeds my doubts about my worth and leaves me feeling like I don’t measure up to who I think I should be.

As I surrendered my idols to Him, He gave me peace about who I am and why I’m here. My purpose is to glorify God through encouraging others with wisdom and compassion—not to fix or control, but to serve and point back to Christ.

I’ve learned to release the heavy burden of worry and fear to God, allowing myself to be present and experience the joys of life. I’m growing in my understanding of my identity in Christ and seeing myself through His eyes, which has led to a healthier self-image. The Lord is continuing to work in me and I’m thankful for a church where I can plug in and build community, something that had been missing for a long time. 

My life still has challenges and unknowns—but I have a deep peace, trusting God to direct my steps. I hold onto the promise in Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” I have been equipped with the tools, resources and community to face the battles ahead.  I no longer feel responsible for things outside of my control, because I know He is faithful and will continue to guide me no matter what lies ahead.