Reflection to Insight

Life is full of different stages and circumstances that stretch us and allow us to grow. Different opportunities that help us learn some valuable lessons. Among those lies college.

Now, I don’t believe college is the only way to lead a successful life. Honestly, school can be really daunting and exhausting at times. And it is just one path out of many a person can take. I think it’s important for everyone to follow their callings and passions, and if someone doesn’t have the desire to go, that is completely alright. There’s no shame in that decision at all. You should make the choice that will help lead you to your best, and most fulfilling life.

For me personally though, I can attest to the three years I attended Anderson University being one of the highest points of growth in my relationship with God. It was during this time frame that I began to understand how to deepen my relationship with Him, and attain a greater knowledge of His love. I ended up finding a great deal of freedom as the Lord and I grew closer each day.

I think there were a number of things that helped, but one of those was the relationships I had around me. I met several individuals, both professors, other students, and staff members, who helped broaden my understanding of God. Many of these individuals mentored me, and helped me see a Light to the Father I hadn’t fully noticed before. I’m very grateful to Jesus for putting these people in my path, and I’m grateful to each person for showing me love and care during my college career.

There are a lot of lessons that the Lord taught me during school. In the future, I may create more posts detailing what those were. But the one I want to focus on today, and the one that arguably stands as the biggest out of them all, was the idea of resting in the Lord’s love, and extending it to others.

Growing up in a Christian home, I had come to believe and accept Jesus at a pretty young age. But I think I had a smaller understanding of what it truly meant to live in the grace and love of the Lord. In my younger years I would get caught up in the steps of praying, reading my Bible, and going to church. But in the process, I would forget the essence of why I was doing these things in the first place.

I think at that time, while I had good intentions, often my actions reflected this belief that I needed to be a good Christian. And if I wasn’t partaking in these various behaviors, than God would punish me or I wouldn’t be good enough for Him.

But after some time at Anderson, hearing the perspective of others, and also changing my approach to God, I came to believe that just being a good Christian wasn’t enough. It really wasn’t the right motive. I found that following the Lord simply because He loved me, and I in turn loved Him, was far more rewarding.

When I allowed love to be the underlying motive and essence to all of my words, actions, and thoughts, I noticed that a burden was lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t just read my Bible, serve others, or pray because I had to. I did it because I wanted to.

Now, I will admit that I was not at all perfect. I still make dumb, unethical mistakes on the daily. Unfortunately, until I get to Heaven I will continue to screw things up now and again.

But once the Lord’s love became more real and tangible to me, I found greater freedom in my standing and identity with Him. I understood that it wasn’t about doing enough good and avoiding enough bad. I was justified through Jesus simply because I believed that He died to save me. He purchased my salvation by taking my sin upon Himself, and chose to forgive me for every wrong deed, though I didn’t deserve it. He did all of this simply because He loved me.

Understanding that I was free and loved not because of what I do, but instead because of what Jesus did, created a grand internal sense of peace and joy. Fears I had previously held about God’s character began to dissipate. Instead being replaced by newfound beliefs that enhanced my intimacy with Him.

I stopped seeing Him as a strict being who would strike me down if I rebelled too much, and instead saw Him as my Good Shepherd, calling and chasing after me if I went astray, and bringing me home in His love.

Personally I find that when love is the core reason behind our interactions with God and others, things tend to come together quite nicely. Because we live in a broken world, and we all have broken parts, nothing will always go smoothly. We may feel for a time that more wrong takes place than right. But love, God’s love, is the remedy to the darkness we see in and around us.

If the motive isn’t love, we must stop to ask ourselves what is. Often I find that if it isn’t love, than it’s fear, guilt, shame, obligation, or doctrine that drive us. I don’t believe that any of those things are truly what God wants us to operate off of. I think what He desires most is close connection to each one of us, with the core tie being love and intimacy. Once we have that, there’s nothing else quite like it.

There were a number of chapel services, Bible studies, and churches in and around Anderson that also impacted me greatly. I know that lately God has still been moving in wonderful ways as I walk with Him each day. But I do look back fondly over my time at the university. I think there were a number of great encounters with some amazing people that changed my life for the better.

As I said above, college isn’t the only way to success, and it isn’t the only way to learn. I think God can touch our lives anywhere and anytime. It just so happened that some of my growth occurred in school.

My encouragement to you is to seek out what He’s doing in your life right now. Times can get pretty dark. But I promise you, if you hold to Him no matter what stage you find yourself in, it will pay off. He’s with you every step of the way. Holding you up as a loving protector.