A Message to the College Kids !

     This semester was hard for everyone in so many different ways. Just like any other season of life that we have gone through, there were good and bad times, but I think that we can all agree we are finishing up this first half of the school year feeling tired… Being in college is hard in itself, but when you throw a pandemic in the mix of everything, it kind of wrecks all your plans and leaves you feeling drained. 

   I have been through some of the most challenging times, but also some of the best times this semester, and most people that I have talked to, or know, have also had a pretty crazy past few months… So, I just wanted to share some encouragement for everyone because I know we all need it! 

    I just finished the book of Romans this past week, and throughout the whole book I kept coming across some of the most encouraging and challenging verses that I have ever read, and all of them seemed to somehow relate back to this semester that we have all experienced… 

    Let’s just be honest, this semester was straight-up hard. Between all the little things like having to wear a mask everywhere you go, the smaller crowd at sports games, loads of homework, making friends… To all the big things, like adjusting to a brand-new season of life, picking, or changing a major that could determine some big parts of your future, getting CoronaVirus, or even losing someone you love… We have all been through something… Definitely some of us worse than others, but no way around it, we have all had trials these past few months... I know that I have. But as I read Romans, I was constantly reminded of the temporary trails that I am going through standing no power against the eternal glory that I have to look forward to. 

    I want to remind you, just as it says in Romans 8, even though there is present suffering, there is also future glory… Romans 8:8 reads, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.” Whatever your present suffering is, THERE IS GLORY PROMISED TO YOU! How amazing is that?! We serve a Savior that despite the ways this world moves, and the trails that it throws in our path, we don’t move until HE does. Because just as it says in Romans 11, “we are ROOTED in Christ”. One of the most beautiful parts about being a Christian is that when we struggle, even if we are physically all alone, we will ALWAYS have someone to lean on. 8:26 promises us that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness.”. And let’s be honest, due to the trials that we have all faced recently, we have all had moments of weakness… But God knew that. He knew that you were going to face these trials that you’re going through, and that’s why He tells us in His word that if we seek Him and His kingdom during these trails, (5:3) “Our suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope.” So, before I write anything else, let me stop and say this… Your suffering is not for nothing. I want you to read this sentence again… Your suffering is NOT for nothing. I know sometimes it seems like you are all alone and that this hard season of life is lasting forever, but you are not alone, and your suffering is developing you, your perseverance, your character, AND your hope. So just as it says in John 16:33, “TAKE HEART! For He has overcome the World!”. Romans 13:12 says that “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So, let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” So be encouraged. Because this season is almost over, a new one is about to begin, and you have a consistently GOOD Savior through it all! THE DAY IS COMING!! THE NIGHT IS ALMOST DONE!!

    I also want to highlight on the part of the verse that talked about the “deeds of darkness” and “the armor of light”. Because as I said earlier, I know that there were probably times during this semester where you doubted God. I know for me personally; I questioned His plan for my life on more than one occasion… And sometimes when I would get stressed out, I would forget to put Him and others first.. But these are deeds of darkness, and we are told to PUT THOSE ASIDE! The chapter right before this one (Ch. 12) tells us How to put on the armor of light… By doing the OPPOSITE of what the world tells us to do during these hard times… Because frankly, if you did what the world tells you to do during a challenging semester you will find yourself seeking temporary satisfaction, through many different types of deeds of darkness. Chapter 12 tells us that instead of only seeing the bad in these hard times, to instead “cling to what is GOOD”. Instead of being self-seeking when everything isn’t going your way, to “honor others ABOVE yourself”. That when you find yourself ready to give up studying for these finals instead “be Joyful in hope and patient in affliction.” And instead of trying to handle all of this by yourself, to surrender to the Lord and “be FAITHFUL in prayer.” 

    I'm not saying this semester and these times are easy, because that would be a straight-up lie… But I am telling you that even through these trials, Romans tells us that we are “More than conquerors.” No matter what happened this first semester, you have the opportunity to finish strong and start the new year with a clean slate. If you are reading this and have realized that you didn’t do a lot of these things the Bible tells us to during hard times, do not worry! Because just as it gives us these instructions, Romans 3:3 also says that “Our unfaithfulness does NOT cancel out His faithfulness.” 

    No, life is not easy, He never said it would be. But just as it says in Chapter 9 in the book of Romans, “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one that formed it, "why did you make me like this?" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes?”… He makes beauty out of ashes, He made mankind out of dirt, He made the whole universe in 7 days, and He CAN make GOOD come out of your situation and hard first semester. Do not doubt Him and what He can do!! 

    And want to know the best part of this whole book? It was written by a follower of Christ, while he was chained in shackles, in a dark and cold prison cell. Even through THAT circumstance, Paul still has the heart to say that things WILL get better, that the night is almost over, and the day IS coming! You know why? Because just as he said, suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope (5:3). 

    So be encouraged. Take heart. And have hope! This semester was hard and draining… Yes. But you were handcrafted by the eternal God who grants restoration and promises a perfect life after this one… Also, not to mention Christmas break is only a couple weeks away! YOU’VE GOT THIS! GODS GOT THIS! IT’S ALL GONNA GET BETTER! 

As always, if you need prayer or anyone to talk to, DM me, or text me at 832-767-9586 !!


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