Megan Yant is the first student in recent years who has spoken at two Judah chapels. Both times, Megan has shared her passion for Jesus. In her words, it’s “exciting to talk about something that I love so much.” In her second time in front of the school, Megan told us how she sees God’s handiwork in nature and how much she needs Jesus.
Here is what she said:
I love God, and I so deeply want to grow stronger in my faith. I have been in Christ for a while, but only in these past few years have I really become more intentional about wanting to grow stronger in God. My desire is for my faith to be strong in the midst of trials, for my sole strength and only dependence to be on God, for my whole being to be rooted in Him, for the joy that comes from Him to flow out of me and into other people’s lives. I know that this will not come overnight, for it is a lifelong journey, but I want my life to become more and more a reflection of Christ, because that is the kind of person I was intended to be: a reflection of Jesus.
GodTreks is one of the places that has helped me grow. It has helped me realize that I need to be more intentional. God is working in my life in so many ways, and I want to grow so much more, because I know and I have seen that when I am rooted in Him, I am so much more confident, so much more joyful, and I know my purpose and identity. I obviously still need to grow, and I have a long way to go before I get to where the desire for my life is, but while I am here, in this moment of my life, I want to take steps to further strengthen my walk with Him.
But I cannot do this on my own. First, I need God. I need the Holy Spirit to guide me and convict me and draw me closer to Him through His love. And second, I need my brothers and sisters, who will encourage me in my faith, who will help guide and walk alongside me, as we press on toward our goal of eternity with our heavenly Father.
This is why I want to be with GodTreks. I want to be with my spiritual family, with people who all have the same goal: getting to know who God is. We will be at different places in our walk with God, of course. But whether we believe in Him wholeheartedly and wish to grow, are younger in the faith, or aren’t even sure yet if we believe in God, we all have the same goal: getting to know Him.
I want to know God so very deeply. The more I see of Him, the more I love Him, and the more I love Him, the more I want to see of Him. By being in GodTreks, and with my brothers and sisters in Jesus, I pray that I will grow deeper in trusting God and grow closer and closer to Him.
The other reason why I want to be in GodTreks is because I love hiking and I love nature. The time I feel closest to God is when I’m in nature. I have what I like to call an “artist eye” from my dad. This describes someone who sees the world around them and is compelled to capture an image of it, to recreate its loveliness. My dad and I both really connect with nature and with God when we’re in His creation. I can feel the heavens singing of the glory of God, like in Psalm 19:1.
I am surrounded by and immersed in a vast and passionate display of a million different living colors, all of them blended so perfectly and put together in each place so masterfully that I sense I am in the midst of a breathing, moving painting. I lose all the air in my lungs. The words in my mouth run dry. My heart swells within my chest. My eyes melt into tears. How can any person see such powerful beauty and not realize that there has to be Something more? That there must be a Creator? How can people not even recognize the immense glory that surrounds them each day? I am so deeply immersed in these things, my own soul cannot contain any of it. I am fiercely overwhelmed.
It would take me too long to describe in detail all of these things: each color of the earth; the brisk, yet soft wind, the way it whispers about my face, the gentle sound, the powerful noise; a faint and light smell, sweet, and familiar, melancholy, and deep; the shapes of the trees, the familiarity of houses, the size of dainty flowers, small birds, strong and large animals; and the vision of light, like a liquid pouring across the grass, bending with the shapes of the earth, still as the invisible air, yet stirring like a vapor that sifts through the trees, leaving cool, dark, long shadows that streak across the earth. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord! And because GodTreks is a hiking club, I will be able to surround myself with His glorious creation. I will be able to sing songs of praise from my soul alongside my brothers and sisters as we travel through His wonderful world.
Megan has grown more confident in sharing her faith. From not wanting to get up in front of people, to ending up speaking a second time, she is an inspiration for those who may not yet have the same confidence. Her speech reminded us that Jesus faithfully equips His people to share their faith and preach His gospel.
—Nathaniel Herche, class of ’25
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