Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Worn.

My eyes are drooping, and from what my roommates tell me, the stress is written all across my face. I'm so close to break, but so far away. Four tests, four more 7:15 am work shifts, and four more 8:15 am breakfasts with my campus sister stand in my way. And in a few hours, those will be scattered throughout 12. more. days.

Twelve more days and I can

For a moment. 

Just a week.

Some time with close friends.

Some time to be chill with my homework (but still get it done).

Some extra time to spend with my Savior.

Some time to be thankful.

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and so often lately have I found myself selfishly anticipating the short amount of time I'll get to just "chill." To cast away my problems, forget about my busy early mornings, and my stress. And so often, it's all about me.

What stress I'm undergoing.

What my problems are.

And yes, I'm tired. I'm weary. I'm worn.

But so is everyone else. Everyone I encounter daily has a burden the size of the universe weighing them down. Everyone has stress, and nobody feels like they can make it through. We are all desperately crying for relief that won't come soon enough.

We are worn.

Everywhere I go on my college campus, I look into the eyes of my peers and see heavy souls and weighted hearts. We are all people. People who are learning that life doesn't stop just because we left home for a few months. People learning that sometimes 16 hours in class doesn't always mean a 16 credit load. It often means more. People learning just how few hours in the day there really are. People who just. can't. get. it. done.

People in pain.

People ready to give up.

But we are also people who everyday wake up and have hope.

Hope that comes from the same Savior I know the majority of us have a personal relationship with, because friends (those at my school), we are on a Christian campus. 

We can wake up each morning with new hope and new mercies, knowing that God is still God and that He is still in control. 

I know what it feels like. We all know what it feels like. But most importantly, God knows what it feels like, and what you are going through right at this very moment. He knows that F on that really important test was a soul-crusher. He knows you feel torn and disconnected from that situation at home and you have no idea what to do. He knows you just broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend and you're standing there, left in the dust, having no clue what went wrong. He knows you struggle to even wake up in the morning. He knows work and/or classes are stressing you to the max and that you can never seem to get all your homework done at night.

And God knows inside and out just how much your heart hurts right now because you feel trapped and don't know what to do or where to go next. 

He wants to give you hope. 

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lamentations 3:21, 24

He is offering you mercy.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 
Lamentations 3:22-23

And He will not fail you.

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
 2 Chronicles 28:20

Please, do not give up. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, He will give you strength and you will mount up with wings like eagles! 

Whether you are with me at college, or somewhere else in the world, please, rest in the knowledge that you are God's child and He loves you. He has a great and mighty plan and He is not finished with you yet. He is just getting started.

And if you are not God's child, I pray that you would realize your great and desperate need for Him and come to a saving knowledge of Him. It will be the best choice you have ever made, guaranteed