Lately, I’ve been randomly thinking about life; about my faith, about everything and anything. My thoughts drifted back to a Bible study session I attended years ago. The reverend asked us a simple but powerful question: Which person in the Bible do you identify with most?

My answer was Jonah.

I said Jonah because, before I walk into any situation, I assess it. I weigh the benefits and the risks. And if I feel like the risk outweighs the reward, I step back and reverse course. That’s exactly what Jonah did. God told him to go preach, and Jonah assessed the situation, decided it was too much, and went in the opposite direction.

And God humbled him.

When I look at my own life, I feel like God has been doing that to me consistently; humbling me, redirecting me, turning me back toward what He originally wanted me to do. In many ways, 2025 was a perfect example of that. I was high on life. Financially, I was doing well. Career-wise, I was moving up. And then God reminded me that everything He gave me was a blessing; one He could take away at any time. That’s when I started to slow down, reflect, and turn back to Him.

I’m not going to lie. Everything I have in my life has been given to me by God. I came from parents who had nothing, and I rose to obtaining a PhD and making six figures a year. God opened doors I didn’t even need to knock on. He showed me His power over and over again. And every once in a while, when I got a little too confident, thinking I could do this without Him, He gently reminded me of His love and His blessings.

So, to end, I thank God for everything I have. Thank you for reminding me where I came from and how I got to where I am. Without my faith in God, I don’t know if I could have made it this far. Without God opening doors I didn’t even know could be opened, I don’t know if I would be as successful as I am today. Without God placing the right people beside me and in front of me, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I was given.

He had a plan that was laid out with perfection, now that I look back. And I praise Him.