If it weren’t for God’s divine intervention, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies May Young may have never found her way to Taylor.
About 16 years ago, Young found herself working as a research benefits consultant in Deerfield, Ill., just outside Chicago. Although it was a good job, Young felt like her life was missing something. As the years went by, things began changing, making her a much different woman than the one who had begun working in Deerfield.
While she was still working, Young decided to do her graduate work at Trinity International University. This added to an already busy schedule, made even busier by her role as a mother of two young children.
Between an incredibly busy life and some difficult challenges that arose at home, Young found herself feeling defeated and decided to stop taking classes. She began to feel disqualified from the Lord’s work. Life had beaten her down, and she was trying to find the strength to get back up again.
To deal with this slump, she continued working and trying to be the best mother she could. Additionally, she dealt with stress by working out regularly, because it provided her with a good break to clear her head. She even ran a half marathon at one point.
One day, as she was running on the treadmill, Young seemed to hear a voice. She said it felt like she was going crazy. She determined that God was speaking to her and his message was clear: return to school.
With God’s instruction in mind, Young returned to Trinity to finish her graduate work. She felt reassured in her goals and pursued her education with renewed vigor. God had helped her to realize that no matter her struggles, she would always be good enough for him.
Young’s studies continued past her master’s degree and she began teaching as an adjunct professor at Trinity while she pursued her doctorate. As things began to settle down in her life, it became clearer each day that she was on the path that God intended.
As she neared the end of her time at Trinity, it was time for her to defend her dissertation. This was one of her final steps before she would earn her doctorate and pursue a new job, outside of benefit consulting.
As Young was defending her dissertation, Taylor was looking for a new professor in their biblical studies department. Her advisor from Trinity, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies D.A. Carson, recommended her for the job, a favor for which Young is still very grateful. Taylor brought her in for an interview, which she recalled went very well.
Before she heard back about the job, graduation day came. She accepted her doctorate knowing that she was fulfilling God’s wishes, but she would be surprised with even more good news after the ceremony.
On the same day as her graduation, she was offered the job at Taylor she had applied for. Things were moving fast, and Young soon found herself moving to Indiana with her kids right away. She she felt as though she was walking through one door at a time without knowing which would open next.
Now, Young is the program director for biblical studies and her children are both succeeding in college. The doors that God opened for her have led her and her family to wonderful lives, and Young believes she is exactly where she is supposed to be.
Despite being scared and confused, she trusted in God’s plan. Had she not listened to him while she was on that treadmill, she doesn’t think she would have ever finished school or come to Taylor. She encourages her students to listen to what God is saying to them, because you never know where he will take you if you simply choose to listen.
