Carolyn Weber rightly says, ““I think of how the world measures the depth of our giving by what we hand over, but Jesus measures it by what we hold on to.” In her memoir, Surprised by Oxford, she recounts her journey to faith and ultimately how she comes to hold onto the truth. When she travels to this English college for her graduate studies on a scholarship, she is excited for the experience and opportunity. But she is not prepared for what lies in store. Through her year in those ivory walls, she is pursued by the Gospel until she finally cannot refuse it anymore. God works through her need, His Word, and other Christians to bring her to Him. It is an incredible story of grace and love.

An Unexplained Absence

When Carolyn first starts on her journey at Oxford, she finds herself constantly confronted with this feeling of emptiness. This world cannot be all that is. Love cannot just be a biological chemical that happens to release into my brain at times. Something is missing. I should not be desiring something that does not exist. All of these thoughts jumped into her mind as she studied in a completely new place with a completely unknown set of people.

As sinners separated from God, we have a lacking inside of us that cannot be filled by anything but Him. We try to fill it with materials and experiences, even good deeds, but it does not work. In the same way that we, who come from God are lacking without Him, so are the other attributes that come from Him not whole without Him. We cannot have love, justice, or even righteous anger without Him. This need for Him led Carolyn to begin her journey of searching for Him.

The Word of God

Carolyn, a literature academic at heart, is presented with the argument that you cannot speak for something without first reading it. This idea inspires her to begin reading the Bible, at first just as a way of being able to better discount what it says. Before long, this reading of Scripture has grown into a habit. It becomes something she uses for comfort or wisdom. She reads more Scripture without any accountability than many who have claimed to follow Christ do in their whole lives. This Scripture fuels her knowledge and drive to answer this God question.

The Word of God is live and active. If it is spread about it is guaranteed to bear fruit. It answers hard questions, shares the truth, and gives comfort or condemnation depending on what is needed. It is an incredible work of literature, valued for its cohesiveness and enduring story. Even those who are dedicated non-believers respect it as good. Just as we see in Carolyn’s story, it can bring faith and salvation by use of the Holy Spirit. It is a powerful tool we have at our disposal.

The Friends She Met Along the Way

Throughout her time at Oxford, Carolyn is surrounded by amazing Christian friends who show love to her in as many ways as possible. They are the first to spark up lively discussion about Christ, opening her eyes to the spiritual issues she needed to resolve. They encourage her in her search for truth and give her food and comfort where needed. They give her an excellent model for what being a Christian should truly look like, which helps her as a beginning Christian. They do an excellent job of never judging her but being ready to ask the hard questions, even if they make her uncomfortable.

She also is inspired by several professors and role models who she finds are Christians. They give Christianity credibility and show how logic and intelligence support their religion. This is of great encouragement and provokes many of her questions on her spiritual state. Ironically, she is also encouraged towards Christianity by seeing her non-believing friends. Their lives, she finds, are purposeless and empty. This fate seems terrifying.

God has specifically given the duty of spreading His Word to believers. It is one of our sole purposes. While he does not need us, he uses us, and I am not one to argue with God. In our current time, however, many people find it incredibly challenging to stand up for their faith. Even though they face minimal opposition, they seem to think it inappropriate or unnecessary. We must be willing to ask the hard questions and support difficult truths. As Christians, we are not asked to be people-pleasers. We are asked to be God-pleasers. This is incredibly important. We do not know the souls we are letting down when we avoid speaking for the truth.

To God’s Credit

All along Carolyn’s journey, she feels God’s presence. He presses things on her conscience. She feels His love, His direction, His importance. None of the other things discussed is important without God. He is the one who saved us through His Son on the cross long ago. He is the one who now pursues us even though we attempt to run in the opposite direction. His Word has no power if it is not His. Believers have no power if they are not His. No amount of logic or history or research means anything without Him.

Carolyn traveled to Oxford with the plan of increasing her education and changing her perspective. And my, did it work. Her world was completely turned upside down as she was presented by the Gospel time and time again through her own needs, Scripture, and other believers. She turned to Christ after a long battle of the soul and finally found her peace. That is the peace and security we get to enjoy, no matter the ups and downs of our lives. That is the gift of God.