Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayelisa Little
Hi Jayelisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story, now, is how Jesus saved me from myself. He saved me from my selfish perspective, pride, idolatry, anger, rejection, suicidal thoughts, lust, and much more. When I graduated from high school and moved to Montgomery, Alabama to attend college, I decided to explore a different side of life that I didn’t have access to when I lived with my Mom and relatives. Growing up in the church didn’t keep me from wondering what the world was like. So, when I moved away without being under strict supervision, I experienced a number of things that never really stuck with me. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what life God was “hiding” from me. Meanwhile, the life that I pursued was not the life worth chasing because it never lasted and it did not produce good fruit. I was convicted after every event of smoking, drinking, and spending time with people who I knew did not have my best interest at heart. I acted as if I didn’t know my identity in Christ and what my family instilled in me. Faking a lifestyle that I was never called to cost me a lot of time that I can never get back. When Covid-19 hit and the world shut down, I began to look at myself in the mirror and ask myself, ” What happened?” At that moment, God showed me where I was and I decided to give my heart to Christ and not just my habits. Since then, many transitions have taken place in my life such as my jobs, my living space, my relationships, and my church home. Everything shifted for me once I surrendered my life to Christ. I am now able to completely walk out the plan that God has for me without hesitation or reservation. I am beginning to trust Him more and I solely depend on Him for this journey of life. My story is still being written and my goal is to simply walk it out.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
With deciding to follow Christ, that required unfollowing a number of other things and people. For a while, I idolized the idea of marriage and people in general. I was so consumed with what others thought of me. My self esteem was low and I valued how others saw me in any light. While in college, I pledged many greek organizations to gain some sense of belonging. Family was what I really desired. My goal was to please people and when you decided to follow Jesus, it doesn’t matter who agrees or disagrees with you. I battled heavily between sharing my story and experiences because I wanted to have God and people’s love and attention, too. Eventually, I had to make up my mind and decided WHO was I going to serve and for whom was I moving for. Even when I was in the world, I never fitted in. However, since coming out of agreement with the organizations that I joined and choosing to no longer affiliate with them, a little turmoil has taken place. While people may not like my decisions, I can no longer be concerned with what others think concerning where I am going. While I didn’t just have turmoil with shifting from organizations, I received a little backlash with shifting church homes, too. And thankfully, it was all opinionated. With what God shows me and where He wants me to go, I must move when He says move. I don’t want to miss God trying to be liked or accepted by people who can’t determine my future. I must go with God. The other struggles were with myself by simply believing that I can have a better life in Christ. I had to be willing to let go and that was hard. In 2022, one of my brothers passed away and while I was out of town preparing for his funeral, my apartment building caught on fire and I returned home with no place to live and most of my things GONE. That was a wake up call that I had become too complacent with my old way of living and something had to change. Thirty-four days after that fire, I closed on a new home with everything taken care of, financially. The struggle with that moment was being able to grieve everything that I had lost in a moment in time. The beauty in all of it was that God didn’t leave me in it, by myself. Suffering is inevitable with Christ, but so is reigning with Him. So in all of that, I still choose to hold on and wait on the Lord for strength because that’s exactly what He is in my weakest moments.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While I am a mathematics teacher and I have begun my eighth year in this profession, I specialize in being a light for the youth and young adults. I have a nonprofit organization called A Hope To Help, where we advise, encourage, and support youth who may be hopeless during transitions in life. This organization is set apart from others because we have many avenues that are provided in reaching the young people. We record music, write books, host conferences and tutoring sessions, perform concerts and auxiliary clinics, and soon we will have a location to host events more frequently. I am most proud of the courage that God gives me to work in this field with ease and progression. I trust Him to guide me well in all of this.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see A Hope To Help with a local Family Life Center available to all in the city of Montgomery, Alabama. I see many young people attending guidance events that help them outside of school hours and job assistance. I also see a place where gifts are nurtured and cultivated and used properly to serve the Kingdom of God in a way that’s contagious to others who are interested in learning about Christ. I see families mended through the services of A Hope To Help for a better outcome, overall.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayelisalittle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayelisaLittle/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayelisalittle334
Image Credits
Ashley Victoria Lens