I’m currently now a senior in college and my life is completely different than how it was when I first started. My mindset is different, my goals are different , my relationship with God is different , everything is different ! Well except for the fact that I’m still the same height and weight 😦 Lol.
By no means at all, has college been easy. I’ve had lots of ups and I’ve definitely had many many many downs. But besides that I am happy with the downs and the trials because they’ve helped to mold me into who I am today and who I am still becoming. “ Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ ” Phillipians 1:6
I’ve learned so much from my tests and trials (not much from school) Lol .But anyways, one of the things that I’m currently learning is to trust his perfect timing for my life! I’m trying to constantly remember that things may not always happen the way I want them to and WHEN I want them to but there is a divine reason for it occurring the way it will. There’s a reason why those people rejected us, why you didn’t get accepted to that college, got that job etc. Also, maybe if we got the answer to our “prayer” at the moment we wanted to, we wouldn’t appreciate it as much, it would cause us more harm than good , would be too much to handle or it would get to our heads…
I will always remember how badly I wanted to go to this one College. I was so ready and excited ! I prepared myself, bought snow boots, made Facebook statuses about it, I was so ready ! I was like, “That campus is so pretty” and blah blah blah. I was so convinced that that’s where I was going to go. Then one day I received the news that I had not gotten accepted. I was so disappointed ! I was so heartbroken !
I was still new to my relationship with God back then so I was still new to the whole God saying “No” to me. I had just started going to church my junior year of high school so all I really knew about God was that he loved me and that we sang cool songs at church. I remember texting my mom after hearing the “bad” news , something similar to, “ God doesn’t love me”. Yeah. *sigh * sorry Jesus ! I was so upset that I would have to go to the college I attend now which is University at Albany . I was like,” Ughh that school is soooo ugly “ and I just kept going on and on and on.
But as these 3 years have gone by I now know why God wanted me here and not over there. (Not saying that I couldn’t have been effective and grown in my relationship with God somewhere else, but I know that this is where he wanted me to be). I’ve met some amazing people that I will definitely have in my heart and in my life forever. I’ve also learned to lean on God because being a Biology major is not a joke and I couldn’t do it without his help. I also placed myself in little purposeless dating relationships that made me realize that I will wait for God himself to write my love story. I’ve learned that dancing for God is not just a hobby for me but something that I will like to do forever until I’m an old lady. I’ve also learned that everything that I need is truly in him. Like honestly, sometimes I’m like Wow Jesus you really love me and your grace is real ! You have allowed to go year by year alive , have protected me from straying away from you and you have provided my tuition each year . Very thankful ! Because I am completely undeserving of everything.
I find myself always telling God to lead me, how much I trust him, how I want his will to be done in my life and all the other churchy stuff. But, I realized a couple days ago, that I had made a whole 3 year plan of my life for after I graduate but I never really went to God about it. * gasp* I know ! I just told him everything I had planned and then prayed/ asked God to do it and said that I trusted him. Never truly asked if it was okay or not? or if he had different plans for me ? By the way, don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with planning. We need to plan and we need a vision. But the bible says to , “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6 KJV
So yeah this time I will do things a bit different than high school. This time my prayer is that I will accept where ever he wants me to go and whatever he wants me to do or actually whatever not do. Of course it all sounds more easily said than done, but I’m just learning to trust God through the process and accepting that my God is for me and not against me.
But, yes this blog post is to encourage you to draw near to God. I want to encourage you to spend time with him and to trust his plans for your life. Some things in life may not make sense at first, or for a couple years… But one day you’ll look back and thank God for the closed doors, heartaches and disappointments.
I also want to encourage you to get to know God , to pray for Godly friends( if you don’t have any), to find Christian clubs or groups wherever you live , read Christian books/ blogs , watch sermons online( from people who are preaching from scripture not just sugar coating things or just screaming and not saying anything biblical).
But yea , Jesus loves you and is crazy about you and about having a relationship with you. But as I close this blog I will leave you with some scriptures that are helping me to trust God during this new school year and with my future.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“I have been young, and now am old;Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,Nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalms 37:25
“The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. – Psalm 34:10”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose – Romans 8:28”
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” Ephesians 3:20
- Any questions feel free to email me at gparris13@gmail.com
Love you !!
The Apple of God’s Eye.. 