Meet Danielle | Confidence Without Compromise #13

Danielle, New York

Meet Danielle. A youth ministry leader, speech language pathologist, and follower of Christ. In this weeks feature, Danielle talks about finding security in Christ, taking ownership of our faith, and realizing the power of community.

Q: What does “Confidence Without Compromise” mean to you?

A: Confidence without compromise means being unapologetically you–nothing less than the person that God has intended for you to be. Compromise takes place when you forget or are unaware of your worth and value.

As Christians, our confidence should come from the undeniable fact that we are all heirs to royalty.

Each of us has been uniquely created to complete a specific job in God’s Kingdom for such a time as this.

Once you are working towards completing that job and living out God’s will for your life, confidence flows naturally.

Q: How has your faith given you confidence?

A: My faith and remembering the promises God has made to me has and continues to give me confidence and strength to get through difficult periods of my life. For six years, I left home to pursue one of my dream careers, Speech Language Pathology. Both my undergraduate and graduate schools were states away from home. There was no one pressuring me to go to church on Sundays or to attend prayer meeting. For a while, just like many of my friends, I became accustomed to the pattern of regarding Sundays as just another day in the weekend. I slept in, finished homework, and caught up on all my shows.

It wasn’t until the end of my undergraduate career that I learned (the hard way) that I needed a closer and more personal relationship with God.

I had to stop renting my parents’ faith and start investing in my own.

I took the time to spend one-on-one time with God, went to church, and even invited some of my friends. In graduate school, I went through a serious season of self-doubt and loneliness. During this tough time, having God by my side and pressing into my faith helped me accomplish what He placed me there to do.

Q: What is a go-to Bible verse that you turn to when you need confidence or hope?

A: My go to confidence verse is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Christ gives me the strength to start and complete any goal that I set my mind to.

Q: What encouragement would you give to other young women regarding living for the Lord?

A: Being Christian is far from an easy task. In fact, living in 2018, it’s harder than ever…but it is so worth it.

Another one of my favorite verses is Psalms 84:11, which lays out the benefits of a close walk with the Lord. It declares, “the Lord God is our sun and our shield: he gives grace and glory…no good thing shall he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

God can be your light and your joy in a world full of darkness and despair.

His grace is big enough to cover any of your faults and imperfections. He is your shield and protector, and through Him, you are made more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).

As you walk with the Lord, He refuses to withhold any good from your life. Even the things we regard as bad circumstances have a way of working out for good (Romans 8:28).

Four nuggets of advice:

You are beautiful, and there is a reason God found it fit to create only one of you to live on this planet. Your very existence in itself should be a huge boost to your self-esteem.
Your relationship with God is the most important relationship you will ever have, so treat it that way. Never get too comfortable, and never cease to fight for a closer relationship with your first love.
There is strength in sisterhood. You are not alone. Make friends with those who share your faith–just make sure to vet them accordingly.
Lastly, be patient with yourself. The race we are running is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. You are going to fall and mess up, but what’s important is that you learn from your mistakes, continue to lean on God for strength, and keep on pushing.

Learn More About Danielle

I am currently involved in the youth ministry at my church by leading a dance ministry, singing on the praise and worship team, and volunteering in our new after school program. I am Director of Public Relations for a youth fellowship ministry. Last but by no means least, I serve on the Director’s Board of a volunteer Christian organization.

For the youth fellowship, I like to summarize our mission with “the three F’s”:

Faith – It’s a safe place for the youth to discuss faith-related topics and issues that we face as Christians on a daily basis. These topics may not always be addressed on Sunday mornings from the pulpit, but nevertheless, they are important enough to be discussed and addressed from a biblical perspective.

Fellowship – This promotes the nurture and the formation of lifelong friendships among youth.

Food – Certainly an essential part of the best kinds of gatherings.

As PR officer, I make fliers, pitch and promote events, and manage the overall image of the organization.

The other is a non-profit, 100% volunteer Christian organization. Its mission is to help guide and support young adults to live a Christian life in a non-Christian world. We service our population mainly through our annual, two-week sleepaway summer camp in July. This camp takes young people out of their regular city environment to be instructed in various life skills, all meant to enhance their chances of a faith-filled and successful future.

With more than 40 years experience, this ministry serves an average of 200 young people every year. As an Executive Board member during the fall, winter, and spring months, I plan, organize, promote, and execute annual events such as our Mother’s Day Banquet and Back to School BBQ.

At the summer sleepaway camp, I serve as an event coordinator, which involves planning and executing day-to-day activities for the entirety of the two weeks, and I serve as a camp counselor in one of the female dorms.

Q: How have you seen God work in your life and the lives of others during your involvement?

A: Through my involvement in these ministries, I have seen with my own two eyes how God has richly blessed my life and the lives of people that I love because of my service to Him, and I am forever grateful. I have made lifelong friends, and that makes it very hard to feel alone in a world where Christians are the minority. I have gained numerous mentors to whom I have become accountable to. They have taken me under their wings and continue to help me grow in my faith.

I have seen countless young people not only get saved but continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They become unapologetically bold to speak about their faith and even get involved in ministries at their own churches.

Seeing young people use their gifts and talents for the Lord based on seeds planted by any of these organizations is a forever humbling experience.

Being in so many leadership positions has forced me to prioritize my time and become a more organized individual. My confidence has grown tremendously because there is no room for feelings of inadequacy and insecurities on this journey. Instead, I consistently put one of my favorite verses (Philippians 4:13) to the test.

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