Former Victoria's Secret model Nicole Weider remembers the day she walked away from the glitz and glamour to pursue a new life dedicated to God.
Disheartened with the modeling industry, Weider was struggling to figure out her next move so she turned to prayer.
"At first, I was a little hesitant because I was like, 'If I give my life to God, is my life going to be boring? Will I not be allowed to have my passions anymore?'" she said in an interview with Fox News published Wednesday. "I just started praying for God to give me guidance."
Weider said she felt a sudden need to surrender.
"I remember saying to myself, "OK God, I’m listening. I’m trusting in you." I haven’t regretted my decision."
Getting to that point was no easy feat. Modeling was all Weider knew. It was a dream she harbored since childhood and when it finally came true at age 17, she was filled with excitement.
That soon wore off as the insecurities began to creep in. The former Victoria Secret model and Maxim pin-up recalled feeling constant pressure to be a certain weight, which was never enough. She spiraled into depression and battled to pull herself out of it.
"It became a period in my life where I felt really lost. I was searching for a purpose," she said. "Not too long after, a friend of mine started talking to me about God."
Reluctant at first, Weider said her life began to change after the day she first began to pray.
"All of a sudden, my life just turned around. I felt like God was showing up in miraculous ways, unexpected ways," she said. "Ever since I welcomed God, my life was transformed."
Weider had finally found her purpose and it was not modeling.
"There was so much more to life than my physical appearance," she said. "I don’t think I would have realized that if I didn’t give my life to God."
Since then Weider has founded Project Inspired, a massive online community for teenage girls, and also has turned her attention to acting and producing.
Earlier this year she starred in "Catching Faith 2," a film released on Walmart that tells the story of a family encountering a series of obstacles that turns to its faith for strength.
The experiences left Weider convinced that everyone has a plan and purpose.
"God has something in store for everyone and you will discover your purpose if you have faith," she said. "When you place your trust in God, all things are possible. God can open doors that sometimes we can’t open on our own. It takes prayer to accomplish goals, but it also takes our own hard work, as well."
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