And So It Begins...

I have spent one full week at college now. That sounds a little bit crazy but in my heart I know it is so right. I am where God wants me to be. This season of life is an exciting one. Scary at times because of the newness of this adventure. Sad and hard at times because I miss my mom and dad or my siblings or my friends. Or I simply miss home. It is a challenge to be in a new environment surrounded by fifteen hundred new people when you only really know two.

It was easy when I first arrived here to just want to go meet everyone and make a ton of friends. I didn't want to get a few weeks into school and not know anyone. It was a challenge the first few days. I barely knew anyone and didn't feel like I was really making any connections. I heard God speaking to me though and tried to be intentional about spending time with Him. I heard Him speak the verse Matthew 6:33 to me on multiple occasions and I only halfway listened. I continued spending time with Him, which I really needed - we all do, and trying to meet people and make friends... and even getting frustrated when I felt like so many people already had connected on the first day that I wasn't here. That trying and frustration cycle burns you out quickly.

Friday at noonday (a simple 15 minute bible study at noon every Monday, Wednesday, Friday) Karis, a very sweet girl I met this week and who leads noonday, was sharing something God had done in her over the summer. Short story, she got to the point that Jesus + nothing = everything. But what are we trying to replace that "nothing" with to be satisfied and say now that we have Jesus plus "fill in the blank" we have everything? Right in that moment God reminded me of Matthew 6:33. This is what He had been trying to tell me all along. I don't need anything but Him. To think I need so many friends and so many things to be comfortable here was the wrong perspective. Or to think that I needed to get those things in my own strength. This is what Matthew 6:33 says...

"But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you."

God just wants me to seek Him. He wants me to trust Him to bring the right people into my life.

So I went on the fall retreat last night and connected with a couple of girls I had met the first few days I was here. It wasn't something I had to try to make happen. It just happened. They have beautiful hearts and I am so thankful God connected me to them.

I know as I continue to seek Him and trust Him the plans that He has for me here will continue to unfold. I won't get burnt out and I will make friends :)