We are happy to announce the winner of our 2017 PersonalizedBibles.com Scholarship.
The well-deserved winner is Andrea Saenz Jauregui from the The University of Texas at El Paso.
Her down-to-earth and and well-crafted piece of writing stood out for us among the many excellent entries we received. Her winning entry follows below.
My Favorite Bible Verse
by Andrea Saenz Jauregui
I’d like to believe that a person’s favorite Bible verse says a little bit about them. I cannot be entirely sure if this is true; however, I think for myself it may as well be. Like every other college student on the planet, I tend to stress, and when I stress, I worry. When I worry, I somehow lose sight of the fact that my Father, the One who holds the entire universe in His hands, takes care of me.
I found my favorite Bible verse almost by accident. I was making a Bible verse wall in my room (thank you Pinterest), when I came across a verse that spoke to the deepest part of my soul, echoing peace and certainty; I instantly knew it was God speaking to me. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (MSG) reads, “So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.”
Realizing its truth, that last phrase of words broke me. Somehow, in a world full of disease, war, violence, poverty, and famine, this verse showed me how God still takes the time to look into my trivial, tiny college girl problems and offer His help and support. When His daughter complains about financial insecurity, the owner of all gold and silver listens. When I worry about my future plans I made myself, my Father listens to me as if my own will really mattered. When a wave of worry threatens, this verse gives me confidence in God’s promises.
And now, even in the silly things like when I pray the traffic on the I-10 is smooth so I’ll make it to class, or when I’m asking God to please let my accounting professor skip the pop-quiz, or even when I’m praying for a stroke of grace before my boss and my leaders, I remember that God is most careful with me.