Lia Rubio's Imago Dei Story
Finding Freedom in God
This May, we recognize mental health and the role it plays in embracing our reflection of the Imago Dei. When we care for our unique minds, we can further understand and embrace our divine role in the Missio Dei.
Below you'll find Lia's story, a high school student who has found freedom and healing in God!
Below you'll find Lia's story, a high school student who has found freedom and healing in God!
"Throughout my life, I was always a positive and faithful little girl, smiling and living for the Lord. However, everything changed when Covid-19 hit in 2020. I fell into a funk that deeply impacted my life. The passing of my grandpa from Covid at the age of 91 shattered my faith, trust, and happiness—everything I once cherished about the Lord crumbled. This loss led to my diagnosis of social anxiety, severe depression, and anxiety. For four long years, I endured overwhelming panic attacks every day, feeling trapped in a relentless cycle.
As two years passed, I still felt like a negative girl merely existing, waiting for life to end. I stopped attending church, convinced that nothing could help me. I believed I was too far gone, trapped in a hole of my own making. During this difficult time, I suffered a severe knee injury that required surgery. I tore my meniscus while dancing and was sidelined from competitive dance for two years. This setback worsened my depression, and I found myself unable to leave my bed for six months, fearing I would never dance again—the one thing that brought me joy.
After those six months, I returned to dance, but the initial surgery had not been performed correctly, necessitating a second operation to truly fix my knee. At that point, I felt lost and numb inside. Fast forward a year, I was a freshman, and my knee was stronger than ever. I tried out for my school’s dance team and made varsity, despite my two-year hiatus from dancing. While I was improving, I still felt off. I began hanging out with the wrong crowd, which negatively affected my mental health, as I mistakenly believed they were my friends.
Months went by, and one day, while sitting in my room, I felt a profound conviction from God. A voice that I initially thought was my own gently reminded me, “You're not too far gone.” This message resonated deeply with me, shifting my entire mindset. I realized I didn’t want to continue living in despair. I understood that God was urging me to surrender all my weariness and burdens to Him. My broken heart was no longer shattered; it was mended. Through the power of Jesus' name, I was set free from depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration. The times I let the devil take control of my mind were over, for in the mighty name of Jesus, I was saved and healed by His stripes because he is the God who brings the dead back to life."
As two years passed, I still felt like a negative girl merely existing, waiting for life to end. I stopped attending church, convinced that nothing could help me. I believed I was too far gone, trapped in a hole of my own making. During this difficult time, I suffered a severe knee injury that required surgery. I tore my meniscus while dancing and was sidelined from competitive dance for two years. This setback worsened my depression, and I found myself unable to leave my bed for six months, fearing I would never dance again—the one thing that brought me joy.
After those six months, I returned to dance, but the initial surgery had not been performed correctly, necessitating a second operation to truly fix my knee. At that point, I felt lost and numb inside. Fast forward a year, I was a freshman, and my knee was stronger than ever. I tried out for my school’s dance team and made varsity, despite my two-year hiatus from dancing. While I was improving, I still felt off. I began hanging out with the wrong crowd, which negatively affected my mental health, as I mistakenly believed they were my friends.
Months went by, and one day, while sitting in my room, I felt a profound conviction from God. A voice that I initially thought was my own gently reminded me, “You're not too far gone.” This message resonated deeply with me, shifting my entire mindset. I realized I didn’t want to continue living in despair. I understood that God was urging me to surrender all my weariness and burdens to Him. My broken heart was no longer shattered; it was mended. Through the power of Jesus' name, I was set free from depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration. The times I let the devil take control of my mind were over, for in the mighty name of Jesus, I was saved and healed by His stripes because he is the God who brings the dead back to life."
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
January
2023