If you're anything like me, around this time of the semester when people ask "How are you?" you reply with, "Tired." You are anxious, worried, and just plain exhausted. The process of taking mid-terms and writing mid-term papers just wore you out, and you feel like you can't do much more. All you want is a break. Well, unfortunately this semester is only half way over, and we don't have a month off to catch up on sleep- yet. Here are a few Bible verses that I have written down that encourage me during this time of the semester. I hope they encourage you too!

1. John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." (NLT)

This was said when Jesus was talking to his disciples. They were freaking out (like many of you probably are this week), and Jesus said this to calm them down. This gift of peace of mind and heart is something that only the Lord can completely fill. Not even an A on your tests, pay raise in your job, or any other earthly accomplishment can fully give you. The gift of God's peace is there whenever you ask for it, while most other things aren't (except Jimmy John's).

2. Philippians 4:6-7 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT)

When you start to worry about what you made on your paper, how your meeting with your professor will go, or even how you're going to eat because you've already spent all your dining dollars, you have Someone there willing to listen and take care of it. God genuinely cares about you, and wants you to focus on your relationship with Him. Worry distracts you from God, therefore, he wants to take it away from you. Worrying means you don't have all of your trust placed in God. It means that you are more confident in the power of worldly things(grades, snide remarks from your teacher, heartbreak, etc) to bring you down, than in the power of God.

3. Matthew 11:28-30 "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (NLT)

Jesus isn't saying that things will be easy if you follow him. He's saying that with HIS help, things in life can be easier. Of course we will all have trouble, that's a given, but life is so much easier to handle with Jesus by your side, fighting your battles.

4. James 1:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (NLT)

People often wonder, "I'm walking with the Lord, so why is my life so hard?" Going through a rough part in your life doesn't mean God's mad at you. It can mean that he's testing your faith, and preparing you for something greater than you can imagine. This verse is saying that when you hit a rough spot, don't get down and let it kick your butt. It's saying BE JOYFUL, because you know that the He is God and he is going to get you through it. While getting you through it, He's giving you a chance to grow in every aspect of your life.

5. Proverbs 16:3 "Entrust your work to the LORD, and your planning will succeed." (ISV)

You may be looking at this and saying, "Sweet! I'm gonna ace this test because Proverbs says so." Nah, that's not what it says. It says, "entrust your work to the Lord, and your PLANNING will succeed." Success requires planning on your part. So, If you plan(study), and do all your work with an attitude to please God, the efforts you make will be honored, and you will have a successful time in college.

So, chill out, take a breath, do your part, and trust God to do the rest.