Conversations with Daniel: Sarah Myers (Part 1 of 2)

This article is part of a series of interviews of members of the Ablaze community conducted by Ablaze member Dan Micinski. Today’s interviewee is Sarah Myers, a local nurse who joined Ablaze Mission through Ablaze’s former Bible Study at St. Therese, Little Flower parish, and subsequently participated in all the offered series before becoming a leader in many of them. This interview was conducted in October 2025.

Where do you feel closest to God? (For example: Adoration)

What comes to mind in this season is really just personal prayer. At different times in my life I might have said Mass or Adoration, but right now it feels more like wherever I’m able to open my heart and spend time with Him—that’s where I encounter the Lord. It isn’t always in Adoration, and it isn’t always at Mass. Sometimes those feel a bit dry. But in those everyday moments when I stop and say, “Lord, I need You right now,” I feel the grace to connect with Him. So I don’t really have one concrete answer—it’s more about being present and open wherever I am.

Right now, it’s been such a busy season, and I can recognize in myself when I start to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even in pain, often it’s because I’m trying to do everything in my own strength—running through my to-do list, making all the plans myself, and carrying the burden as if it’s all on me to figure out. That’s become my cue: “Hi Lord, I’m trying to do this all by myself again.” In those moments, I remember I don’t have to do that anymore. Sometimes I’m able to pause right then and simply say, “Thank You for reminding me that You’re with me, that I’m not alone, and that You promised to always be with me.” Other times, it feels almost like a gentle tap on the shoulder or on the heart, as if He’s saying, “What are you doing? Why are you planning your whole day by yourself?” And I realize—He’s right. I don’t have to carry it alone.

It doesn’t always happen perfectly, and sometimes I miss it. But more often than not, I catch myself running ahead in my own head, just “Sarah in the world,” and He gently reminds me: “You don’t have to do that anymore.” That reminder has been such a gift in this season.

What made you want to return back to the Faith and come back to God?

I used to think, gosh, I’m just too far gone. Even when I went to Mass, I felt so closed off. It was like a voice in my head saying I don’t deserve to be here, filling in the blanks with all kinds of condemning, negative thoughts.  

One of the biggest graces came during a breaking point in my life. I was suicidal, convinced that was the only way out. But in that moment, I heard a breakthrough, a reminder: “I have so much more in mind for you.” At first, it made me angry. But that anger was different; it was deeper. I realized I was angry at God for how things had turned out. And yet, that moment became a breakthrough of hope. From there, it became a fight to hold on to hope.  

Ablaze really helped kick off that journey. Going to Bible studies, being in God’s Word—it inspired me. It was transformational. Like they say, the Gospel changes everything. Seeing others who wanted to be there, who were also sharing their struggles, reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Years after that near-suicidal moment, I realized what I had been missing: community and Scripture. The Lord was lining up the pieces I needed.  

Through all of this, He began peeling away the falsehoods—the lies I had believed about who He was. Over the course of that year or two, I discovered the truth: that He is kind, merciful, patient, and loving. A huge turning point for me was reading 1 Corinthians 13 in a translation that said, “He keeps no record of wrongs.” I bought that verse, framed it, and placed it where I could see it every day. I needed that reminder, especially when the enemy tried to whisper, “Nope, you’ve done all these things.” Holding onto the truth of who God is became everything.  

So how can someone rekindle their relationship with God when they feel unworthy or far away? I think of a quote from Mother Teresa: “Believe more in the power of His love than in your weaknesses.” The enemy wants us to focus on ourselves, on the darkness, on our failures. But the invitation is to turn our eyes back to Jesus and say, “Lord, I can only see my sin and failure. Would you tell me what you see? Would You remind me who You are in this place?”  

It’s about putting faith in Him—risking giving Him permission to prove us wrong. That’s what I did that night: after my anger broke, I cried out, “God, I need Your help!” And He met me there.  

Rekindling that relationship means letting Him be God, keeping our eyes on Him, and asking Him to reveal both who He is and who we are. He loves to dispel the lies of the enemy. And beautifully, as He reveals more of Himself, He also reveals more of who we truly are. The two go hand-in-hand.  

After you really started to feel that calling to come back to God, what did those following six months look like? What kind of changes did you make in your life, and how did you make God more of a priority?

The defining moment for me was when I had to leave behind the life I thought I wanted. On paper, it looked perfect, but I felt the Lord saying, “Sarah, if you truly want to follow me, you have to let this go.” It wasn’t said in a harsh way, but more as a gentle invitation. That moment became the starting point—giving Him all my brokenness, admitting, Lord, I really am a mess, and handing over my thoughts, even the awful ones. From then on, it became about constantly giving Him everything: the good, the bad, the highs, and the lows throughout the day.

It grew beyond just five minutes of prayer in the morning. It became an invitation to let Him into more. Looking further back, before that defining moment, I had a season of much more discipline—starting with 15 minutes of prayer, eventually working up to an hour in the morning, and even setting aside specific nighttime routines. I began to realize that, just as healthy people eat healthy things, I needed to pay attention to what I was consuming spiritually and emotionally: the music I listened to, the books I read, the conversations I had, and the people I spent time with.

That shift required grace, and the Lord gave me a hunger for it. It was like tasting something so good that you just want more. He began changing my tastes and preferences toward what is good, true, and beautiful. And with that came a desire to spend more time in prayer, to go to daily Mass, and to keep drawing closer to Him.

So yes, that’s how I would describe it: a journey of surrender, discipline, and grace, where the Lord reshaped my heart and desires to long for Him above all else.

How has Ablaze helped you draw closer to God and grow in your faith life? 

Gosh, where do I begin? It has created a space for community, faith formation, and meaningful conversations about the Lord, while also offering real, concrete opportunities to grow closer to Him. In so many ways, it has provided both the environment and the tools for encounters with God to happen.

For me, it all started with the Bible Studies. I hadn’t been reading Scripture for a long time—when I did, it felt more like an obligation. But being in community, discussing Scripture together, and watching it come alive changed everything. Hearing others affirm what I shared—like when someone said, “Sarah, thanks for what you shared. I heard the Lord in that!”—opened my heart in a new way.

The Alive series, especially the Holy Spirit Prayer Night [during which participants are prayed over by guest charismatic prayer ministry leaders], was transformational. Even if I didn’t fully realize it at the time, those moments were deeply impactful and continue to shape my journey of faith. 

Even in that very first session [of the Alive Series], I realized I had forgotten about Jesus as a friend—about having a truly personal relationship with the Lord. Then came IDS [the Intentional Discipleship Series], which was incredible. It taught me how to follow Him more intentionally as a disciple, through recognizing my calling and gifts. My eyes were opened… It was like, whoa, the Lord really wants to use me.

Since [participating in those two series], I’ve had the chance to return and serve in leadership roles, or simply help with community functions. I’ve also been able to come back to community events and small groups, not just as a leader, but as a friend—someone walking alongside others on the journey. 

Ablaze has been so powerful, not only because of the leaders, but because of the way it creates space and trusts that God will do incredible things when people simply make themselves available.

You mentioned that being prayed over was one of the highlights that really stood out to you during the Alive Series. Could you share a little more about that experience—what happened, who was praying over you, and what it felt like in the moment?

I’ll start by saying this: a few years before, I had the opportunity to be prayed over at a church event. But at that time, my heart was so closed off. The moment they began praying, I immediately thought: “Nope, I don’t want to hear this. I don’t trust it.” I was afraid. They ended with a kind word, but honestly, I couldn’t even tell you what it was—I wasn’t open to receiving it. 

So when I came into the Alive Series, I knew I had to approach things differently. I told myself, “No matter what happens, I want to hear what God has to say.” At that point in my life, I was living in two very different worlds: on one hand, I was gaining new friends, studying Scripture, and trying to grow in my faith; on the other hand, I was still stuck in unhealthy relationships and not fully living out my faith—almost like living two separate lives.  

Then came the Holy Spirit Prayer Night. This time, I was ready. I even volunteered to go first. My friend, who was also going through the series with me, was just as excited—we didn’t know what to expect, but we had big hopes. And I think that’s exactly what the Lord wanted.

The first prayer leader, Aileen, began by saying, “I hear Mary calling you 'mine'. 'Sarah is mine.'” At that moment, I knew I had a choice: to keep my heart open or to say yes. I chose to say yes! The words that followed washed over me in such a powerful way. One image especially stood out: the Holy Spirit playing with me in a field. It spoke deeply to my childhood in the Church, reminding me of the freedom that comes from believing in God’s goodness. I felt like a little child again, safe and joyful. They also prayed Isaiah 54 over me, starting at the part that says, “Storm-tossed one, unconsoled, afflicted…” and that was exactly how I felt in the hidden parts of my life. It was like living in an interior hell, unseen and unknown. But in that moment, the Lord was saying, “I see you. I see your struggle.” The prayer ended with words of hope: “No weapon formed against you will prosper.” That verse became everything to me. Even today, I still repeat it over myself. At the time, I felt battered by the waves, but those words gave me strength and hope.  

And beyond that night, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Aileen has been a mentor and a friend ever since. 

Truly, the Holy Spirit Prayer Night was incredible.  

Sarah & Aileen

The Conversations with Daniel blog post series takes its name (in fun) from an element of the Intentional Discipleship Series (IDS). If you’re a young adult looking for a faith sharing community and wanting to grow in your own ability to share about your spiritual life or the Good News, consider signing up for the Alive Series, IDS, or joining another of our community offerings!

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Daniel (Dan) Micinski has been involved with Ablaze Mission since 2024 and has participated in the Alive Series, the Intentional Discipleship Series, and the Called & Gifted Workshop. Wanting to grow closer to God, he decided to interview people he admires spiritually to learn from their spiritual journeys. We hope these interviews from our community are a blessing to you as well, on your journey into deeper intimacy with God.