Oh, college. Stress, grades, friendships, relationships, parties... They're great, aren't they? All of these contribute to the ultimate college experience. If you are a believer like me, you have probably prayed over some of these situations. Sometimes you may be so stressed about one thing, that you just need some time alone with God. Sometimes you need a spiritual boost that humanity cannot give. But what if your timing is different from God's?
God has planned out every second of your life. He sticks to His plan. But what if you want instant results? Well... God knows what is best for us. Sometimes, that means waiting on Him to answer our prayers.
I am an extremely impatient person. As soon as I turn in a test, I want my results... Literally... That second. When someone doesn't answer my phone call I assume the absolute worst has happened to them... How dare they not answer? College has taught me a lot, but one thing that has stuck is that I need to trust God's timing. Sometimes that means waiting a few hours. Other times, it could mean years.
When I am being impatient, I often read Bible verses about waiting on God. One of my favorites is, "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near" James 5:7-8. If you wait long enough, God will give you the answers you need. It may take a while, but it will all be worth it in the end.
Learning to wait on God is a struggle. It takes work to not worry about something once you have given it to Him. I continuously struggle with this. I try to remember that when I give something to God he is working on it. If it is something long-term, I pray about it in different ways. However, I am learning not to continuously press and worry about whatever it is.
You may not always know what you need, but God knows. He knows through your laughs, your screams, and your cries late in the night. He knows and he understands.
As always, I am not trying to tell you to believe in God. I simply wanted to share my personal experiences with stress and learning to wait on the Lord. It is a work in progress, but I know that God has a plan for us all. I know that He is going to prevail in the end. No matter what you are going through, I hope that you do at least consider giving it to the Lord. "For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things" Psalm 107:9. I believe that since He is my creator, He understands me better than anyone else, and therefore can provide me with exactly what I need.
