From Pageants to Purpose: Elizabeth’s Journey to Peace and Contentment

What is Courage for the Journey?

Welcome to Courage for the Journey with Julie Fillinger where real stories and honest conversations inspire the strength to take your next step.

Introduction
Hey friends! Welcome back!
Over the next several weeks, I will be interviewing women from ages 20s to 80s and all
in between. These brave Women of Faith with different backgrounds and go to different
churches will be joining me to share their unique story.
If you missed Ashley’s Story, I would encourage you to go back and listen to the
podcast that posted on April 14 th where she talks about Turning Pain into Purpose. It’s
really incredible and will encourage you on your journey.

What is so powerful about someone who is willing to share their story?
I don’t know if I am ever going to stop preaching this.
When we are willing to be vulnerable enough to let people see our personal struggles, it
helps others know they are not alone in theirs.
But we don’t just share the struggle, we share how God is using it for His Glory!
And today, you are in for a real treat. I have the lovely and graceful Miss Elizabeth Miller
with me.
So, welcome Elizabeth!

Elizabeth and I attend the same church. She’s in her 20’s and honestly one of the most
beautiful young ladies I know.
She has attended ladies’ bible studies I have led for years. And I have been so
encouraged by her interest and responsiveness to God’s Word.
My mother has 4 daughters, and she told us many times, “Beauty is only skin deep, but
ugly goes all the way to the bone.”

Well, if that’s true, Elizabeth is beautiful inside and out. You are going to fall in love with
her too as we get into this interview.

Interview Questions
Elizabeth, you and I both grew up in loving and supportive homes. Even though you
went to church every Sunday and Wednesday, you have expressed that your faith
continued to grow when you went to college at The University of Alabama at
Birmingham (aka UAB).
1. What are some of the ways you got involved and why do you think it is so
important for college students to have that Christian community?
2. You talk about how you earned your first B in college. A lot of people may think a
B in college is pretty good. I was overjoyed to get Bs. How did God use the B to
get you to lean on Him more than yourself?
Let’s get into your pageant experience. We both participated in high school sports. But
in my world, the female athletes were not pageant girls. So, you didn’t strike me as a
typical pageant girl either.
But watching you and some other really lovely well-rounded young ladies, including
female athletes, has been changing my thoughts about pageants.
I am not very graceful. Long before I needed glasses, I could just stumble down the
stairs for no reason. It has taken me years to not just blurt out whatever is on my mind.
And at any given time, there can be chocolate or condiments down the front of my shirt.
Looking back, I probably could have really benefitted from participating in a pageant or
two - just to learn some basic poise.
So, I am really fascinated by you.
3. What first appealed to you about getting into pageants?
4. Will you describe your Miss UAB experience?
5. As Miss UAB, you went on to participate in the Miss Alabama pageant. How did
that experience compare?
What was your favorite part about the Miss Alabama pageant?
6. Now moms are reaching out to you to help their daughters who are interested in
pageants. How does it feel to be a mentor to them?

7. How do you think young ladies today can benefit from the pageant experience?
And what can we do as a local community to encourage the right mindset?

Elizabeth, I want to transition to one of the most beautiful qualities I see in you.
You possess the most purpose-filled peace and contentment I have ever seen in a
young single woman.
8. From where does this peace and contentment come? I know and the listeners
may also know the Sunday School answer is from your relationship with Christ.
So, what I am asking is can you dig deeper to describe how that relationship
leads to this kind of peace and contentment?
9. What is your dating philosophy and why do you think it’s still beneficial in today’s
culture? (IOW - How do you think young ladies could benefit from looking for
contentment in Christ first and why do you think that is so important?)
So, what is a Christian young man to do if he is interested in getting to know
Elizabeth Miller better?
10. Everything hasn’t just fallen in line perfectly and without struggle. Will you briefly
describe what you learned from your first job out of college, even though it was
not what you expected?
And how are you using your current job at the bank to minister to co-workers and
customers?
11. Is there anything else you would like to share with our listeners?

Conclusion
Thank you so much for coming in today. I think young ladies and moms of young ladies
will really benefit from your story. But you have also encouraged all of us that peace and
contentment are found in Christ.

In two weeks, Mrs. Phyllis Smith will be joining us. I am friends with quite a few widows
that are a resilient bunch.

Even though Mrs. Phyllis says she is just an ordinary person, she has lived an
extraordinary life. And along the way, she has learned that trusting God is the key to her
ability to persevere through loss and cancer while keeping her eyes fixed on the hope of
glory found in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, I know you will not want to miss it!