Story of Grace: Beauty with Purpose

Tiffany Miller

Age: 20

Major: Earth Science

Year: Junior

Favorite Animal: Jellyfish

Favorite Quote:

             "You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me”

                                                                                          -C.S. Lewis

Tiffany grew up in church and had been hearing about Christ since she was a small child. But it wasn’t until her first days as a college freshman that she really felt interest in the real relationship forming between her and her Savior. And happily, she hasn’t stopped pursing Him in the years since.

Tiffany tells us that one of the major turning points in her life was learning to hear God’s voice .Tiff had pursued the voice of God to frustrating ends many times in the past and as she sat in a room dedicated to that very purpose at last year’s ABIDE conference, she didn’t really know what to expect. Her heart poured forth questions and eager pleas to hear her Beloved’s voice as we often do in prayer. And in a sweet moment between breaths, she heard the whisper, “Stop running.”

Running from what? Tiffany wouldn’t get the answer until weeks later in her weekly meeting with former BSM director, Wayne Dillon. Tiffany had begun to become interested in missions and even had a particular GoNow trip on her mind so she was delighted but still doubtful when Wayne told her she still had a chance to apply. However, that night after a sermon on Jonah and the wise counsel that “sometimes running from God is just staying where you are”, Tiffany was ready to begin working towards what would be a life changing trip to New York to share the Gospel.

Tiffany later described her GoNow experience as a conduit to see herself and God in a completely new way.

“God used me in ways I never thought I could be used”.

Having learned French in high school but never finding opportunity to use it, Tiffany was thrilled to meet a woman at a festival while in New York who was deliberately seeking out a member of the team who spoke French. After basic introductions and small talk Tiffany had made a new friend and planted an important seed. The woman and her companions spent the rest of the festival at the mission team’s table and Tiffany and her friends would later find out that these weren’t just any guests, but guests of honor who were supposed to be in prime seating but chose to keep the company of the young Christians instead. Praise the Lord!

“Now one of the local New York missionaries goes to their home weekly and tells them Bible stories, and they are Muslim!”

Tiffany hasn’t stopped growing in her identity since the trip and is constantly enlarging her view of our great God. Recently she’s been studying true beauty. She says she’s been seeking the wisdom of scripture to help her understand the visible and invisible qualities that the Lord created in us.

“People tell you all the time that beauty isn't just on the outside, but I never paid attention until now. When He [God] says we are made perfect, we are made perfect to suit His will. God had a purpose for Esther’s beauty, maybe He has a purpose for yours too.”

Advice to Freshman: Looking back over the past few years, from where she was to how far she’s come, Tiffany advises freshman to get plugged in, as fast and as soon as they can. She warns them not to be stagnant or turn away, to keep pursuing the Lord and never give the devil a foothold.