A Faith Walk: The Journey to Becoming A Doctor

When Kelley Cartwright, a 26 year old native of Nassau, Bahamas, walked across the stage of the Nova Southeastern University commencement ceremony, she was doing so much more than receiving a degree or the license to add initials after a name. Instead, Kelley (now Dr. Kelley Cartwright, DPT) was merely taking another series of steps in the faith walk that led her to this stage and to this moment. 

Three years prior, with barely enough money to cover living expenses for 3 months, Kelley began the physical therapy doctorate program at NSU. Having hardly any money is the typical identifier of a college student; however, Kelley literally had no money: no money for tuition, no money for books, no money for scrubs...no money! So here she is: an international student, far away from home, with three years of school to go and no idea how the first semester would get paid--let alone the last!

 I love God's humor. I love how sometimes He sets us in the middle of the ocean with crashing waves all around and asks for one thing: "Trust me. Just trust me." Kelley, in the midst of intense studies, examinations, culture shock and life adjustments, had to do just that: trust God. Each semester put her faith to the test. Would she crumble under the worry of not knowing how her school fees would be paid? Or would she trust that God would provide? She chose the latter. 

When you have no money and no means, it literally feels like you are placing your entire life in God's hands and saying, "Here Lord. I can't worry about this. I can't worry about tomorrow or even today. Here's my life. Lead me. Direct me. Guide me. Keep me." It's a scary place to be in life but also full of such peace. Periods of total dependency on God deepen the faith in ways prosperity never can. Through her experiences, Kelley learned that scripture is not only to be read and memorized, but lived. 

During her tenure at university, she clung to verses like Mark 11:24 which reads: "When you pray and ask God for something, believe that you have already received it, and you will be given what you asked for." The all so popular Romans 8:28 was also a promise she clung to and an evident reminder that God would not abandon her nor forsake her; instead, all things would work together for her good.

Kelley's faith walk consisted of paths that stretched through the wilderness (final exams, all night study sessions) and lush gardens full of beautiful flowers (friends, loved ones, godly connections) and sometimes weeds (failed grades, trials). There was sunshine and there was rain, but through the grace of God (and I do mean that literally) she was able to make it through.

Many of us begin journeys that require strong faith--journeys that will never culminate in a tangible reward like Kelley's did. Some of us will never be a doctor of anything, yet God still requires our complete trust. Maybe complete trust in God comes at the time of a life shattering loss and not a gain. You may have lost a close friend or family member and don't know how you will make it to another minute, let alone day. But God. You may be homeless with only a cracked phone in your blistered hands trying to gather inspiration to "do this God thing" and make it through another night. Right there, right here...is God. You may have faced a miscarriage and were forced to put a part of yourself into a tiny, wooden box as tears streamed down your face while also needing to cling to God with all your strength. In each of these circumstances we need to say but one thing, "Yes God."

A "yes' to God means you will obey. It means you will listen to the still, small voice within you and follow His leading even if you don't know how you will fund the journey nor how long the struggle may be. 

Kelley walked away from this 3-year long test debt free, full of a faith worth a million mustard seeds and as the proud and smiling Dr. Kelley Cartwright (the very first of her family!). That was her reward after not even being able to pay for scrubs for clinicals or textbooks for class. You can't tell me (or Kelley!) that God is not real! 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight..."

2 Corinthians 5: 7

To learn more about Kelley's story, read her personal testimony here.

Remember, in all things, to wait in inner beauty.

Love,

Zemi