ADDISON, Ala. — Addison High School’s Mattie Johnson will start her senior year in August, and in this interview, she discusses her faith, starting with a couple of Bible verses that changed her life.
“I think it’s really important to put God first in everything you do. Even during your lowest of times, God is always there to love and support you but never judge you. He never fails me. I might think I’ve missed out on something in life, but really, it’s all in His plan for me. One day, I will figure out the reasoning behind the paths he laid out for me, and I will know it was for the best. I feel like the majority of my life has been one really long roller coaster, but He has always made sure to come through in the end,” Johnson said. “My favorite Bible verses are 1 Peter 5:7, and Proverbs 3:5-6. I like these verses, because I love knowing that no matter what, He’s always there for me, and I can give Him all of my worries. He will get me through anything.”
Mattie wants to help everyone find God, and she also wants to be a role model that younger kids can look up to.
“I would love for everyone to know Him. It would be amazing to wake up and know that everyone wanted to be more like the Son that He sent to die for us,” Johnson said. “It’s great to see people following Christ and leading others with them, especially to those who are younger that look up to older people. Whenever you’re younger, you’re always thinking, I want to be like those that are older than them. If they lead them to Christ while they’re currently thinking that, then that’s great.”
Mattie looks up to a couple of Godly role models of her own and took part in a very special church mission.
“Spiritually, I look up to our last volleyball coach, Kaydi Woodard. We would have motivational Mondays from time to time, where she would read us something from her devotional. We would talk about it and how it would help us during the season. Another one was a former teammate who graduated last year. She was the best about speaking her mind about Christ and what she thought something meant. They were both great and were always helping me if I ever needed anything,” Johnson said. “I went with a church group to feed the homeless on our beach trip one time. I like knowing that I was able to help. We talked to some of them, and it was fun.”
She gave some advice for anyone that wants a relationship with God but are struggling.
“Lean on those that can help lead you to Him and get to know more of Him. He’s the only one that can give you a happy life with a pure heart. I would rather have Him in my life and know that I’m going to heaven than not,” she said. “My dad was air-lifted a couple of years ago. He got out of bed, and after a couple of minutes, he collapsed, and it was one of those times that no one thought that he would come back. It was because of God that my dad pulled through and came home a couple of days later. That proved to me that we never know when our last day could be. I would rather die knowing that I know Christ and will get to be with those that have passed and went to heaven.”
Mattie does a couple of Godly rituals throughout the day, and she’s learned a lot during her walk with God.
“I like to try and talk to those people that look like they don’t really know anyone if we’re in a crowd or try to be nicer to those that look like they’re going through something without trying to overstep in a way,” she said. “Be patient in God’s timing, and He will lead you to where you need to be. It may not always be sunshine and rainbows all the time, but He will always lead you through the tough times.”
