“True freedom is to live for God in the way you were created to be.” —Will Graham

A Daughter

Taking a short break during lunch rush on Friday, Sharon talked about how exciting it is to see God working in her friend’s life. She had another prayer, too: that lots of children would decide to live unashamedly for Jesus as the Celebration continued that evening with youth night.

Hours later, Will Graham was back onstage, sharing with the younger generation about true freedom.

“True freedom is to live for God in the way you were created to be.”
—Will Graham

Freedom in the biblical sense doesn’t mean a lack of restraint or not having bosses telling you what to do, he said; it’s living out your purpose.

Just as a train is meant to stay on the tracks and a car isn’t meant for fishing, Will said, we’re all created for a certain purpose. And when we stray from it, disaster happens.

“True freedom is to live for God in the way you were created to be,” he said. “God made you and therefore God is the one who gives you purpose. …

“You were created to love God and God to love you,” he went on, adding that God knows all of our hurts, disappointments and struggles.

At the same time, God is just. And like paying a speeding ticket for going against the law, “when we break God’s law, we deserve punishment,” Will said.

A proud moment: Sharon poses with her daughter, Sophie, who made the same decision to follow Christ that Sharon’s friend, Dawn, made the day before.
Thankfully, he continued, ­­God sent Jesus to restore the relationship between us and Him that’s destroyed by sin: “God was taking all the bad junk that we’ve done in life and He sent His Son to pay the price.”

There was a lull at first as youth hesitated to make their way up front after Will’s message—until a small girl with wavy red hair, black jeggings and a gray hoodie finally inched her way forward.

It was Sharon’s youngest daughter, Sophie.

“This morning, I didn’t mind to go,” the bubbly 9-year-old said afterward about the event. After a bad day at school, she didn’t feel like it anymore but went anyway.

“Then I ended up coming forward!” she said outside the auditorium, holding a small booklet of the Gospel of Luke.

“I told her, ‘If you want to go up, you should go,’” Sharon said. “It needs to be her decision.”

As part of the Celebration’s follow-up team, Sharon has spent time this week praying over cards that new or recommitted Christians fill out during the event. Living in a small town, she said, “It’s been amazing seeing names you recognize.” Now she has two more she can thank God for: her friend Dawn and her daughter Sophie.

The proud mother took her daughter’s hands in hers Friday night, then picked her up for a bear hug.

Sophie was just as thrilled with the decision she made moments earlier.

“I want to pray more … and to make everyone believe in God.”