Testimony Tuesday: Surrendering control to a good God

By Megan Deets

“In the midst of suffering and challenges, the Creator of the universe knows and is near,” Charlotte Burcham, the Dean of Women at Cedarville University, said. 

The Lord’s nearness to her is something that Burcham has experienced throughout her life. Growing up in the South, church culture was a normal part of Burcham’s life. However, that culture centered more on morality than on faith. 

“That’s just what good people did,” Burcham said. 

As a child, Burcham’s mom was a believer, but her dad wasn’t saved until she was nine years old. Since Burcham attended a healthy, gospel-preaching church, she lived with an awareness of God’s existence and power from a young age.  However, she thought that he wanted her simply to behave correctly. 

“I viewed God as someone I could just make happy,” Burcham said. 

Her perception of God changed when her cousin Barrett, who was a year older than her, was baptized. As an eight year old, Burcham had many questions for her mom about why Barrett was baptized and why they traveled to attend his baptism.

Burcham’s mom explained the gospel to her and told her that Barrett was baptized to display his faith in Jesus as his Savior. That night, Burcham realized that she needed a Savior too. She could never change her standing before the Lord on her own.

Burcham prayed with her mom and accepted Christ’s gift of salvation for her sin, and she was baptized a month later. 

As she grew in her knowledge of God’s grace, Burcham began to experience what healthy mentorship looked like. During her middle school years, two single women named Stephanie and Kristin spent intentional time with Burcham. They would invite her into their homes or meet up at Sonic or Taco Bell to talk with her about everyday life.

However, it wasn’t until Burcham’s high school and early college years that she really began to step into her own faith. Burcham attended Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky, with a major in Church Ministry and a minor in Women’s Ministry. She participated on the student council and was closely discipled by the leader of that program.

Upon graduating college, Burcham did not know where the Lord was leading her next. She began to question if God truly cared about her. Romans 8 comforted her during this time, reminding Burcham that she was not condemned and that nothing could separate her from God’s love. 

“Even when things don’t make sense, God is still good in it,” Burcham said. “Because ultimately, my good is to become more like him. I have to trust his heart for me.”

Burcham ended up getting involved in church planting and ministering to college-age women, but when people asked Burcham about her dream job, she didn’t know what to say. 

“Is there a job where I can just hang out with college students?” she said. 

Little did Burcham know that she would soon receive an opportunity that she never anticipated.

“It’s really sweet to see how the Lord has things that are unexpected for us,” she said. 

In 2018, her cousin told her about an open job as a Resident Director at Cedarville. Burcham applied and got the job. Five years later, Burcham became the Dean of Women. Through her time serving in Residence Life at Cedarville, Burcham learned how to trust God with his plans for her life. 

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” 

Burcham realized that while we are responsible for the choices we make, the Lord is sovereign over all circumstances in our lives. She has also learned that she is not in control of how other people respond when she tries to help and serve them.

“I am a chronic people-pleaser, and I really like to fix people,” she said. “But the Spirit’s the one who changes them.”

As Burcham reflects on the Lord’s work in her life, she clings to him even during the seasons when she feels out of control.

“[God is] working in a million ways that I can’t see and that I could never control,” she said.

Burcham loves Psalm 73:28 because it reminds her that God is close to her: “But for me it is good to be near God;  I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

Megan Deets is a sophomore Professional Writing and Information Design student. She loves to listen to music, go on walks and spend time with her friends and family.