I sought the Lord, and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears.
We serve a God who answers prayer.
The week before leaving Seattle was one of the worst weeks of my life, leaving me feeling drenched and overwhelmed with the concept of leaving friends and family and a home I've known for all eighteen years of my life. God broke me, taught me, forced me to lean my whole heart's weight on Him.
And yet coming here has been one of the best times of my life, where I've seen the divine goodness of God and His mercies and His answers to prayer.
To be perfectly honest, the people here feel like family already after eleven days. I've met amazing people from all over the globe, all with testimonies of God's faithfulness and hearts that reflect His work in their lives. It is a beautiful thing to be able to do the ordinary things in life, like go on runs or walk to classes or get groceries and lunch, with people whose hearts echo the heart of God.
And even chapel, just being surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of students from different countries and backgrounds and churches and ethnicities, with hands lifted high and voices raised to worship the same God who saves and is faithful. It shakes my soul to hear a multitude of voices praising God together, to be encircled by men and women with a deep love for the Lord and who desire to be used by Him.
Yes, it's true, everyone here has different views on theology or creation or politics, but that's what makes worshipping together so beautiful. That though we are all diverse and have dissimilar stories and opinions, we all share the same heart and devotion and commitment to the Lord and His Word. There is beauty in diversity, and there is beauty in spiritual unity, and the zeal and passion for the Lord here continually amaze me.
Christ is on this campus, in the way the faculty and upperclassmen care for each individual student. During orientation week, I was blessed to have some sophomores walk alongside me, and I was touched and challenged by their spiritual maturity and hunger for God Himself. Even today as I met with academic advisors, their care and genuine love really was evident.
I am encompassed by a community that treasures and thirsts after the heart of God, and because of that, I feel incredible peace, knowing that here, I will be challenged to pursue God and run after Him daily.
Also, I am in the process of changing my major from math secondary instruction. I'm hoping to instead pursue elementary education with a concentration in intercultural studies, God willing, but to be honest, I'm not sure if that will change or not. This past day has been completely hectic, as with the support of my academic advisor and my family, I've decided to alter my education to reflect my desire to teach elementary school overseas in missions. Change is overwhelming, as I've had to change classes and my schedule, and I'm still rather uncertain about what my academic future looks like.
However last night at chapel, the speaker talked about the passage where Jesus calms the wind and and the waves, and I am reminded today that throughout the winds and waves in my own life right now, I have a God who is completely in control of my path. Although this situation is hard to navigate and a little overwhelming, my God is above it all, and He is near, and I cling to Him, for He answers prayer.
So long story short, Biola has been an answer to prayer and a physical reminder of God's faithfulness and goodness to me. I'm still adjusting to new classes and a new academic plan, but I know that while this wasn't part of my original plan, all this has been part of God's plan all along, and He continues to guide my path.
We really do have a good God, a God who answers prayer.
