Keeping The Faith In College
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Keeping The Faith In College

Notes on being faithful in a changing environment.

65
Keeping The Faith In College
Pixabay

Coming from 12 years of Catholic (or any religious) school and being launched head-first into your first experience with public education can be a bit of a culture shock. For the first time in (almost) your whole life, you are not surrounded by a sea of plaid and tucked in shirts, and the number of people you interact with that share your values and belief system has drastically decreased. The number of people who want to debate with you and tell you you're wrong, your beliefs are dumb, or completely write you off as a "Jesus freak" has increased. Keeping up with your faith now requires your intentional outside efforts because you are no longer under any obligation to go to religion class or attend weekly/monthly/daily mass.

On Questioning:

I know I often find myself considering not going to mass, but I also really don't want to fade away from my faith in college. As we are introduced to new ideas, people, theories, and experiences, our belief system is often challenged. We start to wonder what it's all about. That is okay. It's a lot of new information, and getting into debates with those who believe differently can truly make us question our faith and what we believe. Some days being all-in with your faith will feel impossible. God wants us to question ourselves and decide what we believe and how to defend our faith, but He also wants us to find comfort in knowing He is always alongside us. Even the days when we feel we are falling out of practice, there is a guiding hand that will bring us through it. He will meet us where we are in life. Even if we fall away for a while on accident.

On Effort:

Once you get to college and realize no one is telling you when to pray, when to go to mass, or instructing you in your faith, you might feel sort of alone. No one around you is going to have the answers, so you have to make a conscious effort to go spend the hour at church rather than studying, going out, or sleeping. You have to remind yourself to pray more often, take more time to reconnect. If you are struggling, contact someone from your church, do some research, find what gives you a reason to keep trying, keep growing. God wants us to make a conscious effort to be with Him. He notices our attempts, our shortcomings, our failures, and He graciously wants us to keep trying. You may find you feel closest to God in other ways. However you feel His love is the most important. (Journaling Bibles are a popular way for people to grow in their faith right now!)

On respecting other religions:

One of the most important things to have in college is an open mind. Other faiths will conflict with yours. Discuss them, debate them, research them, but most importantly: respect them. Respect those who don't believe in any sort of established faith. Remind others not to judge or discriminate based on beliefs, and embrace that other people have their own ideas and systems that they rely on as well. Let the light of your faith be the reason you can be open-minded and accepting.

On the campus preachers:

A side note to all students who see these preachers- the ones who yell, curse your actions, and demand you repent: they are not true ambassadors of any faith. Anyone who is truly faithful in any religion will tell you that the way they act is not what we are about. Seeing these preachers makes me want to remind everyone I see that this person is not carrying out a true representation of any of our values. These people can sometimes make you feel ashamed, but they should serve as a reminder that God does not want us to shy away from our faith and the truth of what we know.

On Trusting God:

With all the things that happen to us in college, we sometimes feel like God isn't there. In my experience, one of the hardest things about remaining faithful in college is remembering that God is guiding me, even in moments of pain. It can be so hard to remember that everything that is happening is going to shape you and that sometimes God uses rough times to teach us, show us what He is doing with our lives. It can be difficult to give all your anxieties, worries, problems, and sins over to God, but that is exactly what He wants us to do. He wants us to cast our cares over to Him so that He can fully enter our lives and show us the bigger picture. It's the letting go that scares us.

On remaining faithful:

Even in times of trouble, stress, questioning, or failure, trusting in God is all we can really do. He knows this life can be difficult. It is so important to remember that He is molding us to be able to weather any storm and become the people we are meant to become. It will be hard sometimes, but while we all figure it out, take some deep breaths, continue in your faith, and rely on God for unfailing help.

Everything you face in life is either a blessing or a lesson. Sometimes both. These trying times will honestly make you stronger in your faith.

Just keep going.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55695
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35902
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957901
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

186615
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments