studying

Life Without Homework

I will thrive this Thanksgiving for the first time since 2015: I exhausted the past three Thanksgivings pulling all-nighters to write copious amounts of research papers due days following the “break,” and returning to school barely reposed enough to function.  Isolation required my presence the past three Thanksgivings, but this Thanksgiving I can fully devote myself to those around me.

It’s a rare season.  Life post-college thwarts my previous expectations—they said it would be demanding, but I did comprehend why—how moderate our imagination articulates itself when considering the future.  Life bustles with business, but not in the sense of ever-pervading papers and deadlines.  I anticipated a consistent routine once I settled into a job, but correlations of events tease me each Monday as I recognize no two weeks mirror; every week acts as its own epic, presenting new themes, characters, events, and settings, each authored by me.  I invite the atmosphere and the characters based on what I choose to do instead of what is required of me from a syllabus or standardized set of expectations placed upon me by another.  However, let me not deceive the reader into believing I have limitless control; much does not go according to plan and many uninvited characters and circumstances and conflicts invade the picturesque plan I envisioned at the beginning of the week, nevertheless, a majority of the time I choose what and who enters the realm of my existence.  It’s a new freedom unknown to the exhausted student—one’s schedule predominantly depends on his or her desires for the moment—it’s quite odd not to arrange my schedule based on anyone or anything external.

I am only beginning to recognize and to indulge in this new freedom, as it is both structured and unstructured. I suppose I am slowly grasping that the consistency I yearned for in college is unattainable, and, perhaps, that is a good thing.

How gracious that I might not become ensnared in the monotony of life—“mundane” seems like an imaginative state instead of something that could be known.  I am sure that I will experience a season of uniformity, but not yet, and I have come to terms with that.  Perhaps God has created me for much more than the routine I crave: the inconsistency surrounding me reminds me that God consistently upholds me throughout every change and every season.

This Thanksgiving I rejoice that I am freed from past responsibilities—the season of being a student has ended, now I must relearn the glories of Thanksgiving—and I will attempt to enjoy the holiday free from distraction.  The past three years make this fourth year significantly sweeter.  These are the moments I worked terribly hard to arrive at.  I made it.  I finally made it to the Thanksgiving I cried and prayed for each all-nighter.  The song emanates through my earphones:

Your promise still stands, great is Your faithfulness

I’m still in Your hands, this is my confidence:

You’ve never failed me yet.

I never imagined that this is what it would be like—I rarely do—but I will remember the faithfulness of God.  He was faithful in that season, He has been faithful in this season, and He will be faithful in the next season.

This is the Thanksgiving I can finally be present for—this is the season of abundance God has carried me into.

Life is good, even when tragedy pervades, stress overwhelms, and inconsistency controls.  We serve a faithful God who knows and overcomes our sorrows, struggles, and sins.
All is well, for we have been set free.

The Splendor of Benevolence

While concluding our third (and presumed final) book, Candace and I enthusiastically agreed that we must begin another; though graduation looms within months, we couldn’t handle the possibility of not studying another text together.  Candace drove us to Lifeway to select a new book, however, we couldn’t imagine what would happen once we arrived.

Sitting on the floor in the bookstore with inquisitive spirits and incessant laughter while searching for our subsequent book, a middle-aged woman approached us:

“You have no idea how much encouragement it brings me to see you two young ladies sitting on the floor of the Women’s section laughing and looking at all the different books,” Julia graciously stated.  Candace and I thanked her and introduced ourselves to meet our new friend and with tears welling in her eyes she commended us for simply being our silly selves.  Once we parted ways, Candace and I browsed the bookstore, but, after we decided upon a text, we returned to our original section and Julia found us once more.

She thanked us again, but this time she released the tears to recede as she described the hardships she’s enduring.  We were able to pray with her and perceive the weight being lifted from her mind as her demeanor melted from a deep sorrow into a gentle joy.  Julia informed us that God provided exactly what she needed, and thanked us for inspiring her.  This courageously vulnerable woman thanked us, simply for sitting on the floor of a bookstore: instantly, we were humbled.

We parted again but met her at the checkout but said our final goodbyes by happily waving to our new friend as she walked out the door.  Candace and I brimmed with gratitude about our encounter with Julia—she was so vulnerable and so encouraging even while enduring such pain.  Moments after Julia left, we reached the front of the line and the clerk handed us gift cards that Julia left for us; awe overtook Candace and I as we processed the clerk’s gesture—what a sweet woman to leave a gift to two strangers.

We beamed with joy on the car ride home.  That’s the Church—that’s the body of Christ—we uplift one another when sorrow submerges us and we exhort one another when we perceive the Holy Spirit’s work in one’s life.  This was one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced in quite some time.  I was so blessed to meet Julia, and I know Candace was too.  She began addressing us with kind encouragement, and she completed the conversation with a gracious gift.

Candace and I reflected on God’s faithfulness, occupied with awe and humility.  Joy invaded our hearts and strength replenished our minds—this is why we pray and study God’s word—these moments are why we faithfully serve Christ and commend one another to do likewise: because Jesus changes lives.  From the moment one surrenders their life to Christ, He does not stop radically impacting them and gently beckoning them into His presence.  We saw that in Julia’s life and we felt that in our own lives; we serve such a faithful God who constantly reminds us of His steadfast love.

You Taught, I Listened

This year I’ve had the privilege to listen to world-famous speakers such as Pastor Alistar Begg, Pat Williams, Brian Kilemade, Pastor David Nasser, and so many others.  I’ve also been able to listen to our wonderful pastors Grant Ethridge and Tim Whitney, Chip Dean and my dear friends Tyler LeClear, Zachary Goodwyn, and Joel Austin preach the gospel!  These men continually allow God to use them to teach many people about His glory.  I have hundreds of pages of notes on messages from these men and many other men and women.

I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately, and I love the plane rides because I have so much time to study!  On these past few trips, I’ve been reading through my most recent book of notes which started March 30th.  I wrote down a theme from each message and found four prevalent themes: Leadership, Communication, Adversity, and Serving.

Dr. John C. Maxwell taught that “Leadership is nothing more than influence.”  A grand leader must be characterized by integrity, communication, boldness, having the competence to learn from failure, and defined as a servant.  It is a struggle to live out one’s life for the Lord.  As He shows love and grace, so we must also.  There is no strength or growth without faith and struggle.  We are ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20), showing and leading the world towards Him.  Pastor Tim Whitney asserted “Our actions can change peoples’ opinion of God.”  What seems like a daunting statement—and it is a serious matter—we aren’t on our own in this.  Regarding Ephesians 2:10, my friend Tyler simply stated: “God has already created the good works, all we have to do is live them out.”  Each day we should strive to lead others to Christ in “such a manner that others could get saved” (Pastor Chip Dean).

Communication influences just about every situation.  Something I find difficult to learn is the ability to be vulnerable.  It’s uncomfortable to share what your deepest thoughts are, but often it is that which is needed.  It’s okay to ask for help.  Chris Deaton, an RD at Liberty University, spoke saying that one must “understand that we are flawed, troubled people, and that God designed us to have deep, genuine relationships.  This process of becoming vulnerable takes patience, as I’m learning.  Patience in oneself and patience with others.  It takes courage to show this type of love, and it is worth it.”  Vulnerability brings people closer, creates an authentic relationship, and sharing our weakness can help others understand how you can grow together and serve God to your best abilities.  Author Annie Downs defines courage as “the quality of spirit the mind is in while enduring fear.”  It is these little acts of bravery and endurance that can change relationships tremendously.

The products of suffering are praise, glory, and honor.  The delayed gratification we must endure produces boldness.  No matter what, our God is King.  In times of hardship, we must remember that God’s truth holds us.  Christ has given us peace (John 14:27), which is the “inner wholeness in the presence of Christ” (Pastor David Nasser), and, because of this, we can have joy, “delight in God for God” (Pastor David Nasser), amidst the trials of this life.  “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” I Peter 2:19.  This struggle is God’s grace being displayed in your life.

Through these times of conflict and times of peace, we must serve the people God has placed in our lives.  As Christ came to serve, we must do likewise (Mark 10:45).  Pastor Tim stated that pretending someone did not hurt you is not a product of forgiveness; we must behold “extravagant forgiveness” and bless those who have hurt us (Matthew 5:43-46).  God has gifted us beyond what we deserve, and Pastor David Stone reminds us that we can serve using our spiritual gifts, personality, abilities, and experiences to spread God’s love and His grace.  Pray to the Lord; give and give thanks, for He is a merciful God.  Serve and give love.  Give mercy to those hard to love and remember who has shown you great mercy.  Persevere when it is hard and you feel as though you have accomplished nothing.  “What we do does not go unnoticed by God.”—Tim Whitney.  Serve faithfully.

Be aware of the influence you have.  Take risks to show the love of Christ.  Never give up on the ones who you pray for—a task I find somehow hard to continue.  Prayer is powerful.  Open up to those around you and join me in the pursuit of becoming vulnerable.  Endure the hardship and trust in the Most High God.  Make your mission to serve Christ and His people.  Give and forgive.  Make serving come naturally, and allow the Lord to work in you.

 

For Further Reading:

I Corinthians 9:24-27

I Peter 4:8,10

Romans 5:1

Ephesians 4:1-2