March 15, 2021 by

“It’s You, it’s always and only been You.” These lyrics, from Building 429, ring through my head when I look back on my life. I certainly do remember when I, Paul Miller, chose Cedarville. No matter where you are: finishing up senior year, transferring from another school, paying your deposit to Cedarville, or in a season of waiting on the Lord, my prayer is that God will show up and show out in amazing ways. He has certainly done that for me. And now that I’m finishing up my junior year at Cedarville University, I can look back and be so thankful that I chose Cedarville as my home.

But that’s not to say it was easy sailing along the way…

High school was certainly not easy. Throw on top of it all trying to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and I was aboard the hot mess express. I had no idea where I wanted to pursue my education or what I wanted to study, let alone what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I eventually felt God was calling me to film directing (that’s another story for another time). As I considered college, my youth pastor mentioned Cedarville.

I decided to tour Cedarville University. I instantly felt at peace. From that first night staying in Lawlor Hall, to going to classes with current students and eating in Chuck’s, I felt instantly at home. Not to mention the lampposts! The lampposts stole a place in my heart, as they reminded me of Narnia. Even though I was only on campus for two days, I knew Cedarville was where I wanted to be. It was as if God was clearly speaking to me.

I paid my deposit! Soon, I had a roommate lined up. I was going to live in Lawlor and enjoy the perks of residence life, worship God in chapel (the heartbeat of campus) with my friends, and enjoy my four years of college studying at Cedarville University.

However, something still wasn’t right. I still felt a check in my spirit that I was supposed to spend a gap year pursuing missions. Why, God? I’m ready to go to Cedarville in five months. Why do I doubt my decision now? I was really confused. That was March.

May came around and I still felt like maybe God was trying to tell me something. I received a text message. It was my future roommate. He no longer wanted to room with me. He gave me no reason other than God told him that we shouldn’t room together. He had no other plans, but knew God was trying to tell him something. This shattered me. It was in this place that I clearly heard God’s voice. I was supposed to pull my application and acceptance from Cedarville. I was supposed to spend a year of my life serving God and living a life on mission for Him. So, I put a year of my life on pause and pursued what it’s like to live on mission for Christ, both in America and South Asia. And when I came back to the states, I was on a spiritual high and instantly applied to be an intern for the missions program and was rejected. I was crushed. Now I had no plans and schools were starting back up in less than a month. 

It was through this season that God laid on my parents heart to advise me to call Cedarville. I felt like it was useless, it was too close to Getting Started Weekend. However, after some prayer, I called Cedarville. The admissions office told me that they could still accept me for the fall semester if I applied soon. I prayed for a few more days, and it was as clear as a bell, I was supposed to go to Cedarville. How can this be? It seemed too good to be true. Cedarville was where I wanted to be, but felt like that possibility had come and gone. But maybe, after all, God still had a plan.

I applied, was accepted, awarded scholarships, assigned a roommate. It happened so fast and with so much ease, I can’t help but know that it was God. Only God could have lined everything up so perfectly. And within one week of all this lining up, I was getting in my small white car and driving to Cedarville, Ohio. Yes, that was a crazy, busy, slightly stressful turnaround. However, looking back I can clearly see that it was God.

Getting Started Weekend was amazing! New friends, new classes, new school, new year, new me, but the same sovereign King. And that was two years ago.

Looking back, it wasn’t easy. It was stressful. But would I change it? Absolutely not. God got a hold of my life through my season of waiting. God orchestrated every event in my college search. He taught me so many things, while making my faith my own, overseas. And then, He gave me the desires of my heart by allowing me to further my studies at Cedarville University. 

I for sure remember the day I chose Cedarville. 

This was my story. You too have stories of God showing up and showing out throughout your life. And one day, you’ll be a senior and you too will look back on how God led you to Cedarville University, your new home. My prayer is that you will be able to look back on your journey to Cedarville and see God clearly. Live every moment for Christ. Enjoy the journey. And I pray that you too can sing, “It’s You. It’s always and only been You.” 

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