As an uncomfortable freshman, I did something out of character: I joined a campus ministry. What may seem typical to you was abnormal for me, since I wasn’t a Christian. This choice surrounded me with people who really loved the Lord and embodied His loving nature unfathomably well. In a long chain of events, I became a Christian and witnessed the Spirit perpetually change my heart!
My heart was on fire and I only wanted to know Him. So I prayed for weakness shortly after the hour where I first believed— an action that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In the months following, I watched a string of bad events wreck my family and my personal life. This extremely uncomfortable and sometimes melancholic period of my life brought me closer to Him than I could have ever hoped for. He was there, even in darkness.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. // 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Weakness forced me to forfeit my own idea of stability and trust in God’s blessings that, at the time, didn’t look like traditional blessings. Through my weakness, He taught me that He has domain over all things in His kingdom. Thus, any wrongdoing will be eventually redeemed by Him, and anything that glorifies Him will also do the same.
Seasons fraught with peril and seasons ripe with stereotypical gifts will all eventually glorify His kingdom. We should, as believers, untether ourselves from our own wants of earthly comfort and unselfishly receive whatever God has planned for us with an open hand, for it is always good.
In reflection upon my two years at UA, I realized I have never met a single student who has stated that freshman year was the best year of their life. In truth, it is likely that your first year at college will be your most difficult endeavor up to this point.
Let’s face it: you could be the most social person in the room, and, somehow, you will find yourself lonely at a university with 40,000 attendees. I say this not to scare you, but in an attempt to prepare you for the uncomfortable. My advice to you is to relish in the uncomfortable, knowing that He is there deftly preparing your heart to better His kingdom.
Dalton Grainger // @daltongrainger
Junior // English + Foreign Language & Literature
Prattville, AL