Well, it’s all over. I’ve officially finished my sophomore year at Maranatha and I’m super hyped. Of course, it’s hard not to be excited about being done with classes, finals, etc. It feels great to be done but it’s also bittersweet because you leave your friends, your “family” for the 8 months or so.
I often joke that I was born without tear glands because despite people’s claims that I’m “soft” I like to pride myself on my stone cold emotionally stable composure during the moments of tears and sorrow that arise as people leave campus.
Whether or not I am indeed a “softie” it was a great semester but sitting here at Starbucks (of course) I was thinking back of how my semester went and I couldn’t help but think of a common theme. I had a lot of trials this semester.
From losing my car to struggling with different personal things, it was difficult and if I had to look back and describe the trials that arose this past semester I’d have to say I was almost completely out of control. I can’t think of one time this semester that I had it all together.
From applying to main campus two weeks before the semester started to driving all over the country with my dad over Christmas break almost on a whim. To turning in projects, homework, and assignments in almost always last minute I was sort of out of control throughout the entire semester. There there was yesterday.
Yesterday was supposed to be amazing. It was my first day with zero classes, zero finals, zero responsibility, it was supposed to be nothing but fun on my last day on campus. You know what happened? I got a speeding ticket. Hold up, let me defend myself. I am a GREAT driver.
I’ve only been in one accident which was minor and not my fault. However, the speeding ticket wasn’t really the issue, it was my pride. I was done school, I told myself that I got myself through the semester but in reality, I was a hopeless disaster. God was the reason I got through the semester.
God was the reason I passed my classes. God is the reason I woke up every day and God is the reason I’m still here to write about it. But the significance of the speeding ticket was my pride. ” I thought I could coast, I thought “Wow this is nice,” and I took God out of the equation.
For a solid six hours, I thought I got this, I can do it alone. I guess you could say God “reminded” me of the role He plays in my life. It hurt, I’ll be honest I was pretty ticked at first. However, God wanted me to realize that I’ll never make it without Him.
I wouldn’t be alive without him so I can’t live without Him. You see that’s the cool thing though. Like Philippians 1:6 says, God brought us into existence and He didn’t do it just to leave us prey to the world.
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
All of this to say this semester was sort of a whirlwind and I didn’t and still don’t have much control over my life but I think the less control I have the better off I’ll be. As long as I’m trusting in God’s control over my life then I don’t need to be in control. Also, God is good.
I can’t stress that enough, I don’t tell myself that enough but God is GOOD. That speeding ticket was $200 which is a pain, yes.
However, had I gotten a ticket a month ago that’d the large portion (if not almost all) of a paycheck which would really hurt because I wouldn’t be home, but now I’m going home and I’ll be able to work more and it won’t be as painful because I’ll be making more money.
So despite my circumstances, God still is taking care of me and God is still good.
Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Back last summer I came across this statement and I really like it and I just thought of it again and I think it describes how we should view our lives.
“Focus not on the winds and the waves, but on the greatness of your God.”
Thanks for reading,
P.S. – sorry about the more sentimental post, I felt like it was something worth sharing despite the informality.