5 minutes with Leah ...

Tell us a little about you I am 22 years old and am still learning who I am and what my place is in this big world. However I love coffee, going on long walks, spending time with my family/friends/pets, love a good laugh and love working through my faith in God. I am registered nurse at the Children's Hospital and look after children with cancer. What's your favourite bible passage & why? My favourite bible passage is from 2 Corinthians 12.9. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. This passage constantly reminds me that in my brokeness, Christ always provides. How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? I keep my eyes fixed on him by firstly reminding myself to stop, rest and just be still. It is when I rest and take a break from the busyness of shift work that I firstly can care for myself and secondly can allow God to work in me. "Be still and Know that I am your God". I love these words and they remind me that God has a sense of humour because I find it really hard to sit still and rest. What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know? I want the next generation of Christian woman to know something that I wish i knew when i was younger. To know that life is absolutely rotten sometimes and being a Christian doesn't give you a free pass from sufferring and trials. Growing up I used to think that if I believed in God he wouldn't allow bad things to happen but I have learnt that bad things will happen and we have to trust God though it all. I remember reading Job as a teenager and couldn't believe how he trusted God after losing everything. I think if I was somehow prepared for the suffering that I had had and have seen I would have spent a lot less time being angry with God and spent more time trusting him. What's one thing that you love about your local church? One thing I love about my church is that I have grown up with so many great role models. I have been at the same church my whole life and have had so many great people to do life with through different stages of growth. What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard? The last couple of years have been very difficult for me, starting my first nursing job in a challenging area. I spent much of this year and last year being frustrated with God. I have found it hard to see the greater purpose for why these children have to suffer so much. I have had days when parents have been crying and asking why does their child have cancer and knowing there is no answer I can give them but to be there for them. Growing up I learnt that suffering is a part of this sinful and broken world. Yet seeing the degree of hurt and pain in little children that I have seen, I struggle to justify why it has to happen. So I guess I am learning that I am not knowledgable or wise enough to understand the reasons for this but to trust that God is and to follow him even when his will differs from my own. What are you passionate about? I am passionate about a few things. I love cleaning, much to my mothers happiness. I am passionate about nursing, the human body continues to fascinate me. I am very passionate about music! I think I am the only 22 year old who still buys CD's from JBHIFI. What do you enjoy doing when you rest? When I rest I enjoy playing the piano. I also enjoy going out for coffee with my mother. But the most relaxing thing for me is to put on some music, light a candle and tidy the house!