As college students, we are at a stage in life where a lot is going on with us. I feel like I am constantly drowning in things to do and most of the time, I never even know where to start. Right when I get through something and think I can relax, something else just hits me right in the face. Like so many others, I am trying to balance school, work, athletics and a social life all in a matter of 24 hours each day. It gets pretty overwhelming.

I know I am not the only one… but lately, I feel that absolutely nothing is going right. It’s almost like life is playing a dirty joke on me where it makes me think I have something going for me, but then it just snatches it away from me like it was never mine to have. I tend to put absolutely everything I have into what I do, whether it be in school, tennis or relationships, and I think it will be the death of me.

I do know, however, that there is one thing that will save me from that flaw and I can turn to no matter what is going on in my life. And that is God. He literally is always, always there. Although I grew up in a Catholic household going to Catholic school my entire life… I sometimes felt that I never really depended on my faith like I should. There were (and still are) times when I just kind of forget about it almost. I feel like we just tend to take it for granted when it’s the one thing we should never take advantage of. I was taught that God will never abandon you, but then again I cannot abandon Him either. He has given me so much, why would I ever do that?

Those who know me know that I am not a super religious person, but I still do rely on my faith to get me through this crazy life. It is not something that I usually like to talk about or share with others… I am just very private about it. It’s still something that is very, very important to me, though. Recently, I feel like this has been the only thing I can lean on at times and it hasn’t failed me yet. Although it seems weird to me to write about it, since I don’t normally do… the inspiration hit me.

A lot of the time, I find myself complaining and whining about my “crappy” life and wondering what I should be doing to make it “better.” I’m not saying my life sucks… but we all go through our phases. But I have come to realize, with a little help from the Big Man, that everything is temporary. My stress is temporary. My pain is temporary. Whatever I am going through in life… He will push me forward in the right direction. He knows exactly what he’s doing and sometimes I forget to let him do his job.

I am one who likes control. I have a certain way I want things to play out in my mind and it stresses me out when it doesn’t go that way. I have, however, been through a few things recently that have made me realize that I need to let go… and let God. He has a plan for me. A plan that will not fail. If I am going through something and I start to lose faith that I can make it through, I have to remember that God has something so much better in store for me. With him, it will all be okay in the end. And if it’s not okay, it is not the end. He has not abandoned me nor will he ever. God puts his strongest through the toughest tests. And sometimes during those tests he decides to give me, I feel like he isn’t there. I pray and I pray and I pray. But remember: the teacher is always quiet during the test.

With this, I have learned trust and patience. Trust that God will give me everything I deserve and need. And patience that it will all come at the right time… His time.

So, to those who feel like they can’t make it through whatever you are going through… He’s got you. Never forget that. It has been proven to me time and time again… everything happens for a reason and God will never leave your side… you just have to remember to reach out to Him sometimes.