Finding Time

As the year’s second semester begins rapid-pace, every college student is reminded of the rigors of college life. Between the early morning classes, long hours at work and late nights cramming and writing, it seems nearly impossible to set aside even a few moments for God.

I personally have found myself repeatedly forgetting to bless my food at the dinner table in a rush to move from one thing to the next. Of course, at Wednesday Night Worship and Sunday morning church services I make sure I turn myself over to God, but that’s it.

“How can I possibly manage to fit anything else in this tight schedule?” I ask myself. Then I nod and assure my conscience that God understands. In truth, though, it is such self-deceit to think that I do not have enough time for my Creator. How many hours have I spent on a social network? How many moments have I spent with friends? How much of my time is consumed by me, for me?

I believe that nearly 99.9% of the average college student’s time is spent selfishly. Perhaps we are occasionally consumed with homework and classes, yet in reality we are only attending college in order to get a degree so that we can work and make money for ourselves. And the rest of our free time is spent with friends! This can provide quite a strain on our relationships with our Heavenly Father.

When I’m disconnected from God, I find myself struggling to work towards my goals. I find less motivation to work to the best of my abilities. I am vulnerable to the barrage of events throughout the week and usually find myself losing strength and hope.

Only one thing have I found helpful when this feeling of anxiety come upon me: bowing in prayer. If I spend a significant amount of time studying God’s Word worshipping, I see the immediate changes in my own attitude.

Lamentations 3:19-27 of the Message Bible gives sound advice for those struggling with hardships:

I remember it all—oh, how well I remember the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.

The next time you become overwhelmed with your life, go off into silence and just wait for the Lord to bless you. He merely wants a small portion of your time, and the results will be well worth your personal sacrifice. He will renew you daily if you allow Him to work in your life.