I was born and raised in China, and I had never had any contact with a Christian church before coming to the United States for my doctoral studies. Yet, by God’s grace, the church entered my life from the moment I arrived. When my plane landed, several members of a local Chinese church drove three hours to pick me up from the airport and take me to the university. That same day, they brought me to a church barbecue. In a new country, far away from my family and everything familiar, their kindness made me feel welcomed and cared for. On my first night at the university, I slept in the living room of a senior student. When I told him that people from a church had picked me up from the airport, he said, “Church people are kind. They are willing to help strangers like you, although I would not do that. But eventually, they will try to bring you into their church, so you should probably avoid spending too much time with them.” His words puzzled me. These Christians had treated me with more kindness than most people would, so why should I stay away from them? Deep down, I also knew that I could not genuinely show that kind of love to just anyone. I remember thinking, “How wonderful it would be if one day I could become as loving and generous as these Christians.” From that point on, I decided that I wanted to spend more time at church. The warmth of the church and fellowship, along with the love and character I saw in Christians, first drew me toward Christianity. However, it was the challenges I later experienced in my academic life that truly humbled me and led me to ask deeper questions: Who is the Lord of our lives? Who should be in control? I used to believe strongly that success came through hard work, careful planning, and self-discipline. But living by this belief was exhausting, and it left very little room for joy. I constantly pursued one goal after another—publishing papers, attending conferences, and reaching the next academic milestone. Yet each accomplishment made me happy for only a week or two. Soon, I would begin striving toward the next goal. Whenever I was unable to achieve what I wanted according to my own plans, schedule, or expectations, I became deeply anxious and frustrated. Looking back, I realize that I had placed too much of my identity and security in what I could accomplish. I wanted to control my future and lived as though everything depended on me. As I continued attending church and learning about the Christian faith, I began to see that my deepest problem was not simply stress or ambition. My life was centered on myself. I wanted success on my own terms and trusted mainly in my own ability. Through Jesus Christ, I came to know God as real and personal—not merely as an idea, but as the One who loves me, forgives me, and invites me to trust Him. This changed the way I understood both my life and my work. I began to realize that the goals I had been pursuing could never give me lasting joy or security. Because God is sovereign over all things, I no longer need to hold everything tightly in my own hands. I can work diligently and make plans while entrusting the outcome to Him. As I have sought to follow His will and experienced His guidance, I have found a peace and joy that are difficult to put into words. His thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and His ways are higher than my ways. This change has not happened all at once. As I have learned to humble myself before God, I have gradually begun to let go of a life centered entirely on myself. The anxiety that came from believing that everything depended on me has also begun to loosen its hold. Becoming a Christian did not remove every struggle or anxious thought. I still have moments when I want to control everything or measure my worth by my accomplishments. But I am learning to bring these struggles to God, trust His wisdom, and leave the results in His hands. My life is no longer defined by how much I can accomplish on my own. Instead, I am learning to live for God’s glory and to trust the One who loves me, guides me, and faithfully holds every part of my life in His hands.