The transition from high-school to college is like moving from a free sample booth to a five-star buffet. The environment is filled with ideas you’ve never even thought of, and you have so many more opportunities to find out what you really enjoy. You’re also exposed to plenty of things that might not suit you so well. If you’re a Christian, the buffet can help you learn new ways to serve others and use your gifts in ways you’ve never considered, but it can also lead you down risky paths—before long, you might end up really enjoying things that you probably shouldn’t be. So, you find yourself struggling with what to try and what to avoid and how to deal with your friends’ opinions, and it’s stressful. Fortunately, Scripture provides some pretty handy instructions when it comes to dealing with the buffet: “Be still, and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:10a, ESV).

When the cooking directions tell you to remove the plastic wrap and place the pizza in a hot oven for fifteen minutes, you’re probably not going to eat lunch without ensuring that you complete both steps first. Chances are slim you’re going to bake the plastic onto your pizza, and you’re not likely to enjoy a frozen disc of sauce and toppings. Both steps are designed to provide the best conditions for a delicious meal, but they aren’t nearly as beneficial apart from each other. The metaphor is a bit cheesy, but the point should be clear: instructions are meant to be accounted for and followed in whole. That being said, the two most common student responses to Psalm 46:10 fail to account for every step in the instructions.

1. “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Alright. Things are getting hectic, I’m becoming overwhelmed with tons of coursework and a complicated social life, and I have no time to rest—let alone mature in my faith. But, the Scripture says to be still, so that’s what I’ll do. . . .

I waited, and nothing happened. God didn’t come to my rescue, nor did He even try to let me know that things would be okay. I did exactly what He told me to do and waited. Instead of God saving me, my friends pulled through. Jesus didn’t give me peace, but the alcohol did. I dropped everything I had to be still, but He never showed me an opportunity to serve Him. All stillness seemed to do was set me back.

2. “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I’m stressed, I’m not doing so hot in some of my classes, I’m having issues with friends, and I don’t know how to handle any of it. But it’s alright because I know that God can handle it. He is capable. . . .

I acknowledged His power, but He didn’t use any of it for me. I recognized the great things He’s done in the past, but He didn’t try to help me this time. I prayed to Him constantly, knowing he could help, but I never heard anything in return. I know who He is and what He can do—the fact that He’s not doing anything to help me stresses me out more than life does.

The first response acknowledges the patience called for in Psalm 46:10, but it lacks the trust and faith that we serve an awesome God who can fill in any gaps, ease any anxiety, and provide peace beyond all understanding. The second response recognizes God’s strength and sovereignty, but it fails to take a moment of silence to let God speak and move how and when He sees fit. One person gets a plastic pizza, and the other gets a frozen disappointment. While the scenarios I presented don’t apply to everyone, the principles remain the same across different trials, backgrounds, and spiritual maturities. Both situations ultimately result in us straying from our Creator in one confusion-filled episode summarized by the line, “I don’t get it.” And before we know it, we find ourselves in the wrong section of the buffet.

If you’re new to college and you’re just not sure how to settle in and find your spot without screwing something up, be still and know that He is God. Make a daily effort to think about who He is and what He’s done, bring your burdens to Him, and give Him time to respond. While you’re at it, it won't hurt to read the rest of Psalm 46:10, where God reveals the purpose behind His initial instructions. And whatever you do, don’t forget that life is good.