The time has come for me to move over two hours away from my family and into a college dorm room. As simple as that sentence may seem, it also contains some fear and stress. Don't get me wrong, I am very excited for this new transition, but nervousness is also present. It is a time to be a complete adult. For some people, being an adult is music to their ears; the reason being they have the freedom to do WHATEVER they want and can live a carefree lifestyle...or so they think.
I, on the other hand, know my limits and am very afraid of failure.Temptations will be present, parents won't be there to tell you "no," and lectures will come only from teachers in the classroom. I grew up in a fairly strict but loving home, so anything that gets in the way of how I was raised makes me think twice about it. It can be a blessing and a curse. In my case, I have high expectations from my family, peers, and God. I have high anxiety so the thought of making just one bad mark absolutely kills me.
To help soothe my nerves and relieve me from my fears, I read the Bible. To anyone starting college along with me this fall and may have doubts about yourself, I recommend opening the Bible and listening to what God has to say. One verse that instantly comes to mind is Joshua 1:9:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Another powerfully comforting verse is Deuteronomy 31:8:
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
And one of my all-time favorites, Luke 1:45:
"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."
It does my heart and mind good to reflect on many, many verses in the Bible that ultimately tell me "Do not fear." Along with reading the Bible, it is comforting to pray. What better way to end a good Bible study than talking to Almighty God through prayer? A good way to keep up with your prayer life is to create a Prayer Binder. Buy a nice binder and tab dividers, add some sheets of paper, and make a pretty cover for the front. Pinterest has a ton of great ideas as to go about putting together a Prayer Binder! I labeled some of my tabs as Friends, Family, Church, Government, Future, and What I'm Thankful For. College is under "Future." You can decide what you should pray for, but it is so neat to keep record of who and what you prayed for and to see God's answered prayers over time!
I also suggest Bible Journaling. This has become a recent 'trend' among many people, especially young Christians. While reading through God's Word, it is so calming to draw and color a picture of what you think of when listening to God speaking. The ideas are endless!
What may be some things you do to help relieve your anxieties during a stressful transition?
