Written by Abigail Morgan
Will my relationship with Jesus survive university? This is a daunting question many of us face over the course of several months and even years.
As a second year university survivor, I have proof the enemy loves university. Young people can be very vulnerable to peer pressure, and our enemy feeds off of this. Let’s be honest, 90% of the conversations around campus are about the party that’s going to happen on the weekend. If I’m even more honest, most of us don’t want to be known as the Jesus Freak as we try to make friends with all these new people. I sure didn’t.
I remember being so nervous going into my first year of university. Not only was I entering a completely new phase of my life, but I was also desperate to maintain my relationship with Jesus. I knew the enemy would be seeking opportunities to trip me up, and that was terrifying.
Statistics were not in my favour — the amount of young people who walk away from their faith as they transition to university is astonishing.
Often the world can look more appealing than God because the things of the flesh are popular. I am here to tell you the pattern of this world actually sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I do have lots of fun, but you can’t tell me that getting drunk, having meaningless sexual relations, and constantly worrying about your outward appearance is what God wanted for us when He created this earth.
I want to put this into perspective. When you’re looking at the aerial view of the Earth from an airplane, it looks incredible, almost fake. Everything seems to be in perfect lines, the roads look straight as a pin, the farmlands look perfectly cut out and the water is as calm as could be. It’s funny, because we know as soon as we hit the ground, we will be entering a chaotic world with crazy people, bumpy roads, blurry lines, and rough water.
Life is kind of like this right? There will be things and people we feel envious of because they look perfect from afar. But when we finally get to know that person or try that substance, it won’t be as perfect as we once thought.
There is only one good and perfect thing. Remember to look for guidance from our all-knowing Father when you feel the world is pulling you. He has the aerial view of our lives, He knows what we need, and He knows what’s going on. Just seek, trust, and ask Him.
I’m not here to only bring the bad news. I’d like to encourage my fellow students. Christians are not that different from non-believers. We go through the same hardships and temptations, the only difference is we have Jesus. We’re still humans, we can still relate to our peers.
But we have a heavenly Father who is covering us with His love. He is protecting us in all our life’s endeavours and most importantly He is giving us eternal life. Our up-and-down happiness takes second place to the steady joy He gives.
So to answer the question Will my relationship with Jesus survive university? – well, that’s up to us and how we cooperate with God. I encourage you to pray throughout your time at school. Ask God to cover you with His love, protection, and for Him to give you the words to say in your hard times. Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Remember His promise to us, and remember His love is greater than anything of this world. Don’t settle for temporary happiness, you’re a child of the one true King! Celebrate the rich joy that only comes from Him.
“But He said to me, ‘my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9