In a town of 2,400 residents, of which 1,000 are college students, being the minority is nothing new. I am female, American, soccer player, athletic training student, member of a sorority and most importantly, I am a Christian. I don't have perfect grades, I don't have a million best friends. But the treasure that I have is incomparable to the materialistic treasures of this world.
As a Christian, it's not about receiving God’s grace so that we can continually sin, it's about being so close to the Lord, and understanding His role in this broken world, so that we don't want to sin. We've all been there, that bottle of alcohol, that website, that handsome man walking around campus; it all draws our eyes in, tempting us. This isn't just another day in the life of a college kid, it's the devil trying to control our thoughts and actions. As a college student, I've learned five things that I think can help any struggling woman of faith.
1. Don't hide who you are.
In a world that's lavished by students dealing with issues they don't know how to handle, it's important that someone can reach out and say, “Hey, I'm here for you,” or “I'm praying for you.” That small dose of Jesus’ love can change their whole outlook on that day or even their outlook on Christianity. To hide God's love and keep it in a box is to sacrifice everything He has to offer and has offered to this world.
2. Your family will always be there for you.
When you fail a class, when you miss a shot, when you don't get that scholarship or position in an organization that you wanted and worked so badly for, your family will always be behind you. Pick up the phone, jump on Skype, shoot a quick text. No problem that you face will be too great for the people who love you unconditionally. My sisters and I were never very close when we all lived under the same roof. We fought over chores and clothes, like any group of sisters who are only two years apart. However, when my oldest sister moved out, the house became somewhat empty. Then I moved out and I felt lost. I didn't have that person to go to for boy advice or a closet that wasn't my own to raid. I began regretting all the mean things I had done or said to my sisters. I found joy in texting them often. Just to see how they were, or to tell them something interesting that happened to me that day. And wouldn't you know it? We've become so much closer than we've ever been. We long for holidays when we all gather under the same roof. So trust me when I say your family is never too far to call, text, or see They'll always have your back.
3. Don't be someone you're not.
It took me three weeks to figure this out. I personally went through a rough time dealing with things back home (from 200 miles away). The way I handled these issues wasn't Christ-like on my part. I turned to the bar scene, I brought home guys that would never be suitable for my life and needs, but because they “treated me right,” I thought they would be good enough for me. Let me tell you one thing: they weren't good enough. It wasn't until I almost lost one of my best friends, who is a man of the Lord, that I realized I was searching for love and healing in all the wrong places. I turned to God, and my home life got better and I found true love.
4. Allow your faith to grow.
I can honestly say that every time I've returned to campus, I've grown closer in the Lord. Whether it was my attitude toward something that changed and someone noticed, venturing out of my comfort zone to meet someone new, inviting someone to church or plainly saying that I know Jesus personally, I've grown in my faith.
However, the lesson I've learned from this is that I have to allow my faith to grow. I have to love the broken people on my campus. I have to walk out of my dorm and live a life God would be pleased with, but I can't just put on a face. This is a college campus of 1,000 students. Everywhere you go, you see someone. And everywhere that person goes, they see someone. People talk, word gets around about what kind of a person someone is or isn't. If you turn down a bottle of alcohol, people see that and say, “Hey, this person doesn't drink, I respect that.” Or if someone sees the relationship you're in and it's faithful and loving they'll say, “I want to be treated like that.” Everything you do, every step you take, every word you speak is monitored and should reflect the Son of God. If we're living in the Word and allowing our faith to grow, we can accomplish this reflection. And be proud of it!
Dear women of faith, never hide God’s love, never try to be someone you're not, use your family as an outlet for help and use your faith, as it grows, to reach out to those who need to see and feel God’s love.
