Eric James Eric James is the youngest and only boy of four. He is a first year WOLBI student and has been loving the “intensive classes.” Eric’s a smart guy; he likes things that push him to go further. He is from “lower-Connecticut,” close to Yale. Eric’s upbringing was surrounded by solid believers. His dad and mom both love the Lord and attend a solid church. He was 6 years old when he trusted Christ as his personal Savior after his oldest sister shared the gospel with him. Yes, this seems like an “easy upbringing”, but we’re all humans in a fallen world, and we have deceptive hearts. Only Jesus can break through our toxic relationship with ourselves and show us what is really going on. Eric has recently been challenged by the Lord in the area of dependence. This was something he tended to overlook. He felt okay and everything seemed “peachy.” There was nothing major like the loss of a family member or some other traumatic event to push him to trust in the Lord actively and not depend on his own understanding. Something that has pushed Eric to understand he is in great need was memorizing Psalm 73:25-26 and coming here to WOLBI. Colossians 1:17 says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Even if we don’t feel needy, we are always in need; without God being in control, holding everything in its place; we would fall apart. Eric has been an RA in Colombia dorm this 2017-2018 school year. He has had some leadership positions before this year, but nothing as involved as this. Eric understands that he is an introvert. Being surrounded by people all the time is an exhausting challenge. His place of contentment is with less people and more space to recharge – quiet. He had to face such a trial as “burn-out” the whole first semester of being here as a student. Eric was sick all the time. He was physically and mentally overwhelmed constantly. “I was desperately learning dependence.” That time of being faced with his frailty led him to understand that he truly could not do anything on his own. Praise the Lord Eric had those verses from Psalm 73 memorized before going through this season, and he was privileged to be going through Colossians with his Discipleship Coordinator during this time too! This is a prime example of the Spirit of God using the Word of God to change the people of God. [Thanks for the quote, Marshall Wicks.] Eric, as I have mentioned before, is now striving to remember daily that even when he doesn’t feel sick, needy, broken, or desperate, he is still in great need of the Lord every moment of the day. God has the ultimate control and power, and our friend Eric is still learning how to practice this now.
Even if we don’t feel needy, we are always in need...
Student Life
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