During her time in middle school, sophomore Yareli Hernandez began to embrace her faith. Although her family was always religious, she had never practiced it herself. She started to ponder questions about death. When she asked her mother, she received no answer, leading her to turn to Google, which proved to be quite unhelpful. Eventually, she approached her church leader, who advised her to refer to the Bible. This was fortuitous, as her mother had given her one just a few days prior.
“My religion is Christianity, a system of belief that there is only one true God who created everything and is all-knowing,” Hernandez said. “He sent Jesus to earth as a baby, who later sacrificed himself for the sake of the world because of the danger of sin.”
Even though Hernandez was raised in a Christian environment, there were moments when she almost ceased to practice her faith.
“There are a couple of times when I doubt whether or not Jesus was real,” Hernandez said. “Yet, there have been numerous records showing that he lived, died, and was resurrected. It’s not only from the Bible. It’s also from scholars who spent a lot of time researching and gathering information. Some even end up becoming a believer.”
Hernandez began contemplating her faith in September due to various factors.
“School was stressful, so I tried to keep my cool but didn’t give myself a proper break and time with God,” Herndadez said. “I started doubting whether He is with me. But eventually, I prayed little by little, each morning, and listened to devotionals. I improved overall.”
It was during her middle school years that she truly embraced the faith.
“God is like a very patient parent,” Hernandez said. “He’s both a perfect mother and father. It’s good to know that he is always there for me, despite falling into sin. Really, there is a lot to say about God, but I would agree that although He is powerful, He still shows humility.”
Hernandez’s church community is welcoming and brings joy to everyone.
“In my community, the All Saints Catholic Church, the people I met are friendly and fun to be around, especially the priests and teachers.” Hernandez said, “They have helped me grow in my faith.”
Hernandez demonstrates her religious beliefs in various ways, such as frequently wearing a cross necklace.
“Any time I fail, I try to reflect on what I did wrong and what my next step is, which can be prayer, reading the Bible, or even talking to a friend,” Hernandez said. “But, sometimes I get carried away with other worries of life, which brings more stress.”
Hernandez thinks that God communicates with people in various ways, and he is always attentive. He provides many signs to individuals.
“I think God talks to people through a lot of different ways, such as music, reading, and through people,” Hernandez said. “He’s always available.”
Some individuals hold others accountable for their mistakes, which can tarnish the reputation of Christians.
“When people blame their wrongdoings on God, or even on anything, that just tells me they don’t take accountability,” Hernandez said. “Basically, not mature enough to accept that they made a mistake or that something is seriously wrong, which is kind of concerning.”
Hernandez understands that individuals often misuse the word of God, which refers to the Bible, distorting it to serve their own interests.
“That angers me a lot,” Hernandez said. “I hate it when people twist such good, wise words to fit in their evil teachings. Some people get fame and money from convincing people to buy a ticket to heaven. It doesn’t make sense, but people fall for that, unfortunately.”
Hernandez is aware that numerous individuals in her community support the religious parties, which she disapproves of. For her, religion should be a personal choice.
“People who push their religion are either confused about what they should do or just want power and control,” Hernandez said. “This way only harms more people and will push people away from the love of Jesus. I believe every religious person, no matter what they believe in, should not force their belief.”
