I think everyone can agree life is temporary. However, with what’s happening in the world, that phrase has a whole new meaning. Aside from physical death, there has been death of plans, dreams, goals, and excitement.
As a senior in college, I am heartbroken that my time on campus has come to a close. I have been mentally preparing myself for ending this chapter in May. That month was when I would say the hardest goodbyes, play one more basketball game in the gym, attend BCM one last time, and proudly walk out of my last class ever chanting “I DID IT!” Instead, my goodbyes happened without me knowing, basketball came and went, BCM is over, and I walked out of class for the last time without even realizing it.
We get consumed in our daily schedule, due dates, and goals that our days become muscle memory with a lack of purpose. I know this happened to me in college, especially with graduation constantly on my mind. Even though we often say we’re tired of our busy lives, when the business leaves, we feel uncomfortable. We’re bad at stopping and ‘smelling the roses.’ At this time, I think silence and being alone is our biggest fear. There are no longer sporting events, school, work, or activities to distract us and make noise. Sometimes, silence speaks the loudest to us.
God is giving us an opportunity to step back, reflect, and turn to Him. Yes, I sometimes wish this was done in a different way where my college life did not have to suffer. However, this life is not about me; this life is temporary. My life is not centered around my college experience or how long it lasted. My life is centered around Christ and HIS desire for the Gospel to be shared. Before we share the Gospel, we need to know Him. And we can’t know Him if we put what this life offers above Him.
Even through times of confusion, heartache, and frustration, God is giving us a uniquely-timed gift. He’s giving us the gift of rest and limited distractions. Everything that can turn our attention away from Him has been taken away. It’s rare and annoying, but needed for transformation. In the book of Hosea (2:2-8), God told Hosea to remove all temptations or distractions from his wife so she would come back to Hosea instead of selling herself to other men. God is removing all temptations and distractions so we may come back to Him. This is an act of grace and love, even in the moment it seems harsh. Because God is perfect, His wrath is perfect. Even in his wrath, He loves us and wants us to know Him.
I am sad that my college career has ended abruptly, but if people come to know Jesus because of the limited distractions, my lack of official college goodbyes is worth it. As someone said this past weekend, “if you are not a believer, this is the closest you will ever get to heaven and if you are a believer, this is the closest you will ever get to hell.” Discomfort here is worth the reward and party there will be in heaven. This world is not our home. The best is yet to come when we have a relationship with Jesus.
Therefore, “come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us, He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds” (Hosea 6:1).
The Joyful Journey 