To be honest, this summer wasn’t easy for me. It was a rollercoaster of anxiety, happiness, fear, discouragement, excitement, frustration, eagerness, and doubt. But I’m still here. I survived the summer of 2018. And I learned a few life-changing lessons along the way:
Lesson #1: God provides exactly what we need exactly when we need it.
I had major doubts that God was going to provide a job for me this summer. You see, this past spring, I started thinking (and worrying) about getting a job for the summer. I started filling out job applications in April and continued to fill out applications until I had “application-itis.” (It’s a condition when you lose track of how many applications you’ve filled out because you’ve filled out so many.)
I kept hoping and praying that I would get interviewed. I waited. And I kept waiting.
I was still waiting for a job when the spring semester ended. I hadn’t heard from any of the companies where I had applied for jobs, and I felt completely discouraged. However, in mid-June, I was offered a job at a daycare center. God provided a job for me.
Even though I felt disheartened and even doubted God’s goodness. He still provided for me—and He’ll provide for you. It’s normal to have concerns and doubts, but we still need to pray in faith. We won’t always get what we want (as I’m sure you already know), but His perfect will will be done if we ask for it.
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:21-22 ESV)
Lesson #2: When we try to encourage others, we end up being encouraged, too.
There were many times this summer when I really didn’t feel like being social. When a friend asked if we could hang out, my immediate reaction was to say no. When a church member invited my family to come over, I wanted to make up an excuse why we couldn’t. I wanted to spend my time off work doing things that I enjoyed, like watching TV shows and chilling with my family.
But I decided to spend some of my free time with others, and I don’t regret it.
Even though I didn’t really want to spend my free time being social, I actually enjoyed spending time with people. It was refreshing and fun!
To my introverted readers especially: Don’t be the person who always stays home. You won’t find much encouragement from a romantic comedy, your Twitter feed, or a gallon of ice cream. But if you make an effort, you can encourage other believers—and you can be encouraged in the process.
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB)
Lesson #3: We’re going to be just fine.
Honestly, I spent most of my summer worrying. I worried about not being able to find a job, and then I worried about that job. I also worried about returning to college. Fear consumed me daily as I wondered how hard my classes would be, how I would manage being away from home, and if I would make more friends.
Well, friends, I returned to college. And I’m fine.
Yes, I know that my classes will be challenging this semester. I do miss my family every single day, even though we haven’t been apart long. I haven’t made a ton of new friends (or even a few). I did already drop one of my classes. But I’m fine, and you’ll be fine, too.
No matter what you’re facing, you can rest assured that God will take care of you. You’re going to get through this. Don’t spend your whole life worrying because He’s not going anywhere, and He’s worthy of your trust.
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19 NASB)
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