Today is a very gloomy day for me because I’m getting ready to go back to college. The worry, stress, and nervousness have already kicked in. I feel panicky, irritable, and anxious all at once. My heart is racing as I write this, and so is my mind. This semester will be so full. How am I going to thrive—or at least survive?
This Feels Familiar
Last year, I wrote about returning to college after winter break and how un-ready I felt. This year is no different. Once again, I have to say goodbye to break and hello to college.
In other words…
- Goodbye, entertainment, comfort, and enjoyment. Hello, stress, loneliness, and frustration.
- Goodbye, loving family, cozy bed, and delicious homecooked meals. Hello, countless classmates, old bed, and tiresome cafeteria food.
- Goodbye, sleeping in, relaxed pace, and free time. Hello, sleep anxiety, hectic schedule, and burdensome tasks.
Needless to say, I’m worried about leaving home. If I listed all my worries right here, you’d be reading for a while. I’ve let worry invade my life…as is my custom.
The Cure for Worry
This morning, as I thought about all the daunting adventures ahead of me, I journaled a prayer to my Savior and begged for wisdom and direction. Immediately, I thought of Matthew 6:25-34, which is the passage where Jesus commands His listeners not to worry. Reading this passage, I let the Father speak to my anxious heart.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NASB)
In reality, it doesn’t matter which major I pick, how many credits I take, what grades I make, or how many friends I have. It simply matters that I seek Christ—above a college degree, a well-paying job, a book contract, or a certain number of friends.
How about you? What do you seek? What do you worry about? Your family, friends, marriage, finances, home, school, job, or church?
Maybe you dread the next season of life…or maybe you dread the next hour of your life. Maybe you think that your life will be miserable in years to come…or maybe it’s miserable right now. Maybe you worry that bad things will happen to you…or maybe bad things are happening as you read this.
Either way, the truth of Matthew 6:33 applies to all of us. Because in reality, it only matters that we seek Christ first.
Moving Forward Without Fear
Sure, we still have to prepare for the future. It’s important to count the cost of our choices and be wise in our decision-making. But sometimes we become too focused on weighing pros and cons that we don’t focus enough on simply following Scripture. Life is definitely complicated, but that’s often because we choose to complicate it. Let’s begin to uncomplicate it by trusting Jesus’ words.
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33 NASB)
Although change is inevitable, we always have the choice to trust God. Since worry is our fleshy, sin-nature response to change, we must ask God to help us seek Him above everything else. We can only turn from our worries if we remember that He knows exactly what we need.
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