I was determined. I felt the crunch of the snow under my feet, heard the squeals of my friends as they all came racing down the course. I was at high school church camp, super stoked to get involved and connected with my youth group.

This was the first time I had ever heard of the sport of snow-tubing, and little sophomore Stephanie was nervous.

I picked up my tube and faced the challenge ahead.

We started the trek up the hill, and I was torn up. I so desperately wanted to try this out, but my nerves were almost getting the best of me.

I sat down. There were two lanes, an easy run and an advanced run. I decided to go big or go home, and went for it.

I knew within seconds something was wrong. My tube shuddered and spun me backwards. I had no idea what direction I was heading.

Instantly, my tube went off course. Instead of skidding down the run like hundreds before me, I went up and over a six foot embankment. A youth leader was excitedly taking pictures of everyone participating in snow activities, and happened to capture literally seconds before impact.

The impact of my landing caused me to slide the length of two football fields. I heard my neck crack, and instinctively held my head with my hand. Immediately, dozens upon dozens of people crowded around me. I felt dazed and confused, yet at peace. Still holding my head, I calmly stated that I could not feel my legs, and that I needed help.

Paramedics were called, but since the camp was held in a small town, it took them roughly a half hour to get to me. I stayed in my tube. My body temperature was dropping fast, and the compassion of other campers led them to cover me in their jackets and other snow gear.

I was raced to Yakima Regional Medical Center, which was an hour away. My body temperature at this point was dangerously low, and my body was starting to go into shock. Before I knew it, I had three IVs connected to me, all kinds of monitors and noises around me. We arrive to the emergency room, and literally nine doctors followed me into the room. I was x-rayed, poked, prodded, everything.

My doctor, Dr. Zamboni, did a series of reflex tests. He started at my torso, gently poking and asking if I could feel him. He would go lower and lower until he reached my legs, where I had no feeling. His face would go grim every time when I simply answered: "no."

Back at the camp, three hundred students began something amazing. Without direction, they broke off into groups and just started praying. These kids had immense faith, they believed that God was compassionate, and they prayed for his will to be done. They prayed for healing.

I laid in that hospital bed. I didn't understand what was going on, I didn't know what God was trying to do. But I had peace, that peace that the Bible says passes understanding. Dr. Z came over to me and my leader who was standing at my side. He delivered the news.

"Stephanie, you're going to be here awhile. We have a neurosurgeon on the way, you have significant spinal cord damage.

You're not going to walk again, but we may be able to regain feeling for you."

They upped the dosage in my IV, and sent me off to get an MRI scan. His words echoed in my head as the test continued. My leader called one of the pastors back at the camp, to fill him in on all that was taking place.

Meanwhile, the campers were settling in for another session of teaching. My pastor jumped on stage and prayed corporately for me and my situation. The session went on as normal.

At the hospital, I had just finished my MRI scan, and we were waiting for the results. During the scan, I felt a warm tingling sensation, not only in my legs but my whole body. It was an overwhelming heat, almost unbearable, but welcome. I felt secure. I asked my doctor to test my reflexes again. He looked at me with a questioning glance. He most likely thought I was crazy, after all, I had just found out I was paralyzed and I was asked to be retested. Out of sympathy, the doctor began gently tapping my legs. He touched my knee cap...and I kicked him in the face.

In that moment, the whole mood of the emergency room shifted. When I first came in, there was urgency. Panic. Confusion. And now, there was peace. Joy. My doctors rushed around me, removing IVs and monitors. They sat me up, and encouraged me to stand. It was shaky, but after six hours of being paralyzed, I had regained all feeling. We walked triumphantly down the hallways, all the while, my doctor was announcing to the receptionists what had occurred. They asked him how it happened, and he said:

"I don't know. All I do know is that this girl came in paralyzed, and she's leaving healed."

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I had never encountered God in such a real way.

I had always believed in God, or in a god, I even went to church. I got involved, I enjoyed going to services and doing the church scene. But there wasn't a full change in my heart. I lived a double life for so long, believing that I could go to church on Sunday and be a good person, and then live the rest of my week the way I wanted to. I didn't pray, I didn't read my Bible. I knew who Jesus was in my head, I had accepted him.

But I wasn't living for him.

It took me getting in a serious accident to evaluate my life. Within the course of a few days, and the help of my church and many leaders, I began to realize what a wretched sinner I was. They showed me what Jesus did for me on the cross, I understood how he atoned for my sin. I learned of his grace and mercy towards me, this unmerited favor. I do nothing to deserve it, but God gives it abundantly. It's nothing to do with myself, and everything to do with him who gives me life.

I still don't have everything together. I'm still a horrible sinner. But I have Jesus, and through him I've been able to do exceedingly more than I could ever want for myself. My life has drastically changed. I have hope now...and this hope doesn't disappoint.

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I urge you, dear reader: if you're living that double life, you need to make a decision. Who are you going to live for? Yourself, or your Saviour?  It took me a radical event to finally get my life straight and to live for him. For you, it may be as simple as realizing your own iniquity, repenting, and begin walking in your newfound freedom. Who the Son sets free, is free indeed. Get an accountability partner, someone to walk alongside you. Study the Word and pray together. It all sounds so simple, but it's so vital.

The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it to its fullest.

John 10:10

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