Getting back into school can be rough, exciting, jarring, hard or anything in between. At a minimum, it is a season of transition. We also want to remind you that whatever feeling you are experiencing, that is OK! Please don’t shame yourself in anyway for how you are feeling when going through a transition; that being said, remember to be in conversation with God through it all!

Read through and meditate on the verses below to help you in this time!

1) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

When things seem to not be going your way and the structure and plans you have put into place seem to be falling apart, remember that you are living out God’s plan for your life not your own. Submit all your dreams and plans to Him, trust Him to make it happen and to take care of all the details, and know that He will make your paths straight.

2) “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Ladies, this verse is crazy. Think of your most ridiculous dreams, and then think that God has already thought about that AND He has so much more planned for you. But… those crazy things will only happen if you love Him. Make sure you find time in each day to get out there and spend time loving Jesus and His people.

3) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

This life we live on earth isn’t easy, but don’t think you are alone in that. Jesus experienced harder times than we ever will, and He overcame the world! When you start to feel this way, run to Jesus first and then to the people and community you surround yourself with.

4) “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Self-discipline is a hard one to grasp and really live into sometimes- especially when you are away from your parents. This could mean something as simple as making sure you brush your teeth and eat breakfast everyday, to the more serious ones of practicing the art of discipline when it comes to how many drinks you consume and your mentality behind that, how you respect your body around boys and desiring Jesus to fill your craving for attention, and even how you treat the buffet lines in the caf. The Lord gave us our bodies and our time on this earth, and we are called to practice self-discipline in order to use our bodies for the good of this world.

5) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

If you tell yourself everyday that you are going to live your life out of love for our Father, imagine all the good that will happen in your life and all the good you will bring to people around you. When you love God, and pour into what His plans are for your life- you will be utterly amazed at what happens.

6) “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” – Isaiah 42:1

Here, the Lord calls us His “chosen one in whom {he} delights.” Wow, if you sit with that truth then it will radically change how you live your everyday life. Live as a chosen daughter of Christ, one that has God’s Holy Spirit upon you, and you will be used to bring justice to this world and good to the people who inhabit it. Be encouraged, this doesn’t have to be in a crazy large scale, it can be in your sorority, on your floor, in the classroom, or during a club meeting. When you are walking with God- He will show you these opportunities all the time.

7) “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Peter 1:8-9

For those days when you are running around, singing, dancing, and laughing for no reason at all, remember that it is the Lord who fills you with this inexpressible and glorious joy. It is your Father blessing you from up high for your diligence in pursuing Him, and longing for the things outside of this temporary world we call home. Bask in that joy, soak in that goodness, and thank God for those times- they are His little (and big) blessings to you.

8) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Whatever it is that you may fear this year: giving a speech for your business presentation class, making a pitch or presentation in front of a massive lecture hall of people, going through recruitment, navigating your way around campus, or even finding real true friends and community, give it all to the Lord. He will give you the strength to trust him, and He will hold you up with his mighty righteous right hand.

Remember, Jesus is always here for you- in Word, Truth, and Spirit. Dig into the word and discover all that it has for you!

Written By: Tessa De Vilbiss