A journey from chasing success to finding true joy in Christ
Reflection by Katie Hall
“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2)
On my first day attending the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (UWL), I can guarantee you that I was not, as the Apostle Paul encourages in his letter to the Romans, pondering the renewal of my mind and discernment of the Lord’s will. In all honesty, I am not even sure if I had read the book of Romans prior to attending college.
As we know, the current college—and young-adult culture, in general—encourages individuals to passively adopt values and behaviors shaped by trends, anxiety and impurity. Now, while this is a great travesty, no earthly organization or university will ever be able to fulfill our desire for true renewal of mind and spirit. We know this renewal comes through relationship with Christ, who through His Passion, revealed a profound joy that comes from knowing the victory and purpose of His sacrifice.
This begs the question: How can we actively foster a young-adult culture that encourages both lasting perseverance in faith, authentic joy and community?
A Refined Sensitivity
While there are countless ways to answer this question, I have learned from my experience that a refined sensitivity to the Lord may naturally lead to a profound joy that remains even in the face of suffering.
What does it mean to have a refined sensitivity to the Lord? Well, just as we are sensitive to the physical world (touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight), we can also become sensitive to the spiritual world. Achieving this spiritual sensitivity is to develop the ability to recognize the Lord and His voice—even amidst the chaos of our day-to-day lives. Too often, the ease of filling our lives with endless busyness deafens us to the quiet whisper of God’s voice. Trust me, I know.
I remember my experience as a freshman in 2019, searching for meaning and connection, but often finding it in the wrong places—through parties, excessive socializing and an intense focus on academic achievement. My attention was focused not only on graduating, but also on doing everything possible to strengthen my graduate school application. However, in trying to strengthen my academic performance, I was actually numbing my sensitivity to the Lord, busying my life to the point of no return.
It was not until a few years later that I truly learned what it meant to have a refined sensitivity to the Lord’s whispers.
Recognizing the Importance of Daily Prayer
During my third year in La Crosse, I was encouraged by a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) counselor to begin a daily Holy Hour. What initially seemed like a waste of time turned into a life-changing decision. Taking intentional time to pray, ponder and pursue the Lord was the first unintentional step toward refining my sensitivity to Him.
It was like wearing glasses or using hearing aids for the first time—suddenly I started to recognize the Holy Spirit more naturally. A sunset appeared, and I remember being struck by it and thanking God for such a beautiful sight. With my new ears and eyes, even conversations with friends became moments of appreciation. After speaking with a dear friend, I remember thinking, “I needed this—thank you Jesus.”
However, this was just the beginning. My need for prayer and sensitivity to the Lord became most evident during a trip I took with a group of friends toward the end of my junior year.
Inviting the Lord into Daily Activities
In May 2022, a group of friends and I embarked on a three-car caravan to explore Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons and Glacier National Park. Just a few days into the journey, I realized that this trip would completely transform my interior life.
On the first day of our trip, we traveled through the Badlands and ended up at a KOA campground in the Black Hills of South Dakota. That evening was full of games, delicious food and a cozy campfire. Oh, we were having such a great time! But right at the height of the fun, one of my friends suggested we pray the Liturgy of the Hours before bed. I remember thinking, “Aw, come on—we’re having so much fun, and now we’re just going to stop and pray?”
So, we gathered together on the front porch, prayed the Rosary and then the Liturgy of the Hours. This time in prayer brought us closer together and allowed us to rest and reflect on the day’s blessings. I felt the Holy Spirit moving within my heart and those of my friends. Afterward, we went to bed, quietly carrying the peace from our shared prayer.
Reflecting on this experience, I now recognize how profound it was, and I appreciate my friend’s wisdom in turning to the Lord amid the chaos of our travels.
Over the next few days, we traveled, explored and found ourselves attending daily Mass at a wide variety of beautiful Catholic churches along our route. While hiking in the Grand Tetons, we prayed a Rosary together on the snow-covered peaks. At Yellowstone National Park, we sang hymns of hope and praise as our three-car caravan accidentally became separated.
How amazing it is that my friends had the wisdom to invite the Lord and respond to His whispers, even while on the road!
Joy versus Happiness
Following this trip, I realized there is a profound difference between fleeting happiness and a deeper sense of joy. At first, I believed that the hikes, whitewater rafting, food and sightseeing would bring me happiness. However, upon later reflection, I realized that the profound sense of inner joy I felt did not stem from these experiences. Instead, this joy came from recognizing the Lord’s presence and responding to Him. Being surrounded by such holy witnesses taught me how to develop a heightened sensitivity to the heart of Jesus. This is what being a disciple is all about!
Living as a Disciple Post-College
Experiencing this sense of peace and the choice to share the Gospel, even in the midst of suffering, is the heart of discipleship. But living as a disciple varies depending on where we are in life. For example, as a college student actively involved in campus ministry through FOCUS and the Newman Center, I experienced a unique sense of community and faith support. During that time, living as a disciple seemed to be a relatively easy task. Looking back on those days, I now realize how wonderfully blessed I was to have an experience where living as a disciple was modeled as a way of life.
Out in the “real world” after college, living as a disciple of Jesus Christ isn’t as glamorous. Friends who once held you accountable are now scattered across the nation, daily adoration and Mass may no longer be as feasible or accessible, and the strong sense of community you once enjoyed—poof, gone! This is a real dilemma for me and many other young adults.
So, I return to the question: How can we actively foster a young-adult culture that encourages lasting perseverance in faith, authentic joy and community? There is no perfect answer, and honestly, I still don’t know where to start in my own life. However, there is one thing I know with certainty: the Lord is not stationary; He will always seek me out, wherever I am—and wherever you are.
As I continue this journey, I am reminded that cultivating joy is not about achieving perfection, but faithfully responding to the Lord’s call each day, especially when the path feels uncertain! This joy isn’t meant to be kept to ourselves—the Lord invites us to share the Gospel and welcome others, especially our friends and family, into a life-changing relationship with Christ.
“A sunset appeared, and I remember being struck by it and thanking God for such a beautiful sight. With my new ears and eyes, even conversations with friends became moments of appreciation. After speaking with a dear friend, I remember thinking, “I needed this—thank you Jesus.”