Who Are You Walking Beside?

Eighteen years old. Sitting in a room I never imagined I would be in. Listening to women share stories I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear.

The very first thing they told us in Al-Anon was this:

You cannot walk this journey alone.

They didn’t hand us a rule book.

They handed us a relationship.

They told us to find someone who wasn’t new — someone seasoned. A woman mature in her healing. Someone who reflected the kind of person we hoped to become one day.

And that’s where I met Pati.

Designed for the One Who Wouldn’t Walk Into Church

Al-Anon was created as a safe place for people who might never step inside a church building. Yet its foundation echoed biblical truth — surrender, accountability, humility, restoration. The founder was a believer in Christ, and the principles mirrored Scripture.

Even before I fully understood it, I was being discipled.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17

I didn’t know it then, but God was building me through mentorship.

Leaning on Her Faith Until I Found My Own

At 18, I borrowed Pati’s faith.

When I didn’t understand grace — she showed me.

When I wrestled with forgiveness — she modeled it.

When shame tried to define me — she reminded me of truth.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

She carried hope for me when I couldn’t carry it myself.

And slowly, what I leaned on became what I believed.

Her faith pointed me to Jesus.

And eventually, I matured into my own walk with Him.

“And what you have heard from me… entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” — 2 Timothy 2:2

That’s the pattern.

Receive. Grow. Pour out.

Mentorship — No Matter the Label

Call it mentorship.

Call it sponsorship.

Call it discipleship.

The label doesn’t matter.

Obedience does.

We often pray, “God, use me.”

But do we change anything to make room for Him to?

Do we:

• Rearrange our schedules?

• Step outside our comfort circles?

• Say yes when it’s inconvenient?

• Notice the voids in our church and fill them?

Or do we continue doing the same things — attending what fits, gathering with the same women, praying about stepping out… but never actually stepping out?

I’ve fallen into those traps too.

There’s a definition often quoted in recovery circles:

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

If we want God to use us in bigger ways, we must be willing to live in braver ways.

“Here I am. Send me!” — Isaiah 6:8

Availability changes everything.

The Blessing of Saying Yes

Recently, I said yes to mentoring a senior in high school.

And can I tell you something?

She blesses me more than I could ever imagine.

What started as “I’ll pour into her” has become mutual sharpening, mutual joy, mutual growth. Watching her hunger for truth, wrestle through life, and grow in faith reminds me of that 18-year-old girl who once needed someone to sit beside her.

When you say yes to pouring out, God pours back in.

“Give, and it will be given to you.” — Luke 6:38

You cannot outgive God — not your time, not your wisdom, not your love.

Look for the Voids

Ask God:

Where am I needed most?

Who feels unseen?

Who is eighteen years old and sitting in a room, terrified and unsure?

There are voids in every church.

There are young women praying for someone to notice them.

There are new believers leaning on borrowed faith.

You might be the answer to someone’s silent prayer.

You might be someone’s Pati.

Who Are You Pouring Into?

Mentorship changed my life because one woman said yes.

She made time.

She showed up consistently.

She chose obedience over convenience.

Now it’s our turn.

Not halfway.

Not when it fits.

Not when it’s easy.

But boldly. Generously. Intentionally.

Because someone is waiting.

I encourage you — say yes.

Change your schedule.

Open your table.

Text the younger woman.

Offer the coffee.

Start the conversation.

Step into the void.

And watch how God multiplies what you give.

Tricia