Callie – 2015 Graduate

Growing up, I was very attached to my mom and extremely shy and timid. It was difficult for me to make friends, and from a young age, I was very worried about what other people thought of me. I was often rejected and felt left-out. These experiences planted a seed of insecurity in my young heart. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t fit in. My extended family members often made critical remarks about my weight and appearance, which made me believe that I had to look a certain way and be a certain weight in order to be accepted. I thought I was unwanted because I was ugly and fat. I got the idea that losing weight would get me the attention I craved, so at the age of 14 I began restricting food. I lost weight, and got the attention I wanted, but I continued to experience rejection. In an effort to comfort myself, I turned to binge-eating. Still desperate to fit in, I began partying when I was 16, drinking alcohol and smoking weed. My mom passed away in February 2014, at which point I fell into a deep depression and food became a serious addiction.

I found out about Mercy through Francesca Battestelli’s music video “He Knows My Name.” I applied knowing that if I didn’t get help, I would probably die. When I arrived I was hopeful and excited but scared. I wanted nothing more than to find freedom from my eating disorder and finally live a normal life.

A major turning point during my journey at Mercy came when my counselor helped me to realize that I was angry at God for allowing so much rejection and loss in my life. I was also upset that He had not freed me from my eating disorder. God began to speak to me through teachings and assignments, and I soon learned that God was not keeping me in bondage – I was keeping myself there. I was not making the choice to accept the freedom that Christ had already paid the price for me to have. My anger towards God immediately shifted, and after a while I began to trust Him and His timing.

While I was at Mercy God lifted me out of the pit of depression. I grieved the loss of my mother and my ex-boyfriend. I have learned how to choose life and walk in freedom from my eating disorder. I have learned how to take every thought captive and replace the lies with truth of God’s word. I have been rejected but I am NOT reject-able. God says that I am beautiful, accepted, and adored. I now know that my identity is in Christ, and I can rely on His unfailing love.

After graduating from Mercy I am moving to be close to family. I plan to get very involved in the Young Adults Ministry at my new church, and hope to eventually lead small groups. I want to get involved in the mentorship program to help young women who struggle with life-controlling issues. In January, I will start school to pursue a degree in Christian Counseling.

It is because of the generous Mercy supporters that so many women like me are transformed and walking in freedom. My time at Mercy completely changed my life and set me on the path to wholeness. God met me here and transformed my heart and mind, and now I have hope for a bright future. I was made for a purpose, and I’m going to have a major impact on the lives of others.