Micaela Arriola

For the first 2 years of my university life, I dived into many many activities - sports, clubs, societies, committees. I dedicated my time to these things to ‘build’ myself, but more often than not, I found myself tired and frazzled, and for someone whose time was always filled, I felt empty.

I wasn’t planning on joining a cell group in Year 3 because I was afraid of the commitment but after much prompting from a friend in CSS, I signed up. For the first few weeks of CG, I was slightly distracted, just always thinking about what time I’d reach home or the time I had left to do work or just relax. It wasn’t until one particular CG session, when one of my dear sisters (now) shared so openly and vulnerably, that I saw Jesus through her. Her sharing opened my eyes to His work around me and just how fully present He is to every one of us. I never understood Matthew 18:20 better than at that moment.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

The weekly meetings became a place of refuge for me, where I could safely share my struggles in school and outside of school, where I could listen to others share about their lives, and also where I could pursue God together with other people pursuing God too. After a while, I realised how God truly multiplied my time because I stopped worrying about how long CG would take or if I had enough time to finish my work. Going for CG helped me to ground myself and center the things I did around Jesus, giving everything I did so much more purpose and life.

I am immensely grateful for the grace that has brought me here. He carried me through my last year of university, and blessed me with so many new sisters to journey with, and also a community so present to me. He has shown me His love through the people around me and He continues to chase me every day.