college, covid, and Jesus

As I've mentioned in my previous post and also my get to know you page, I am a college freshman which has been an interesting journey to say the least. Going into college, I knew that what I was going through was not going to be  normal. I knew that there was more to an optimal freshman college experience and that what I was doing was not what was cut out for me. From attending football games socially distanced in groups of 4 to a zoom sorority bid day celebration, this was not what I signed up for. When young Grace pictured her first year of college, she was not expecting it to be so drastically different. 

Even if I wanted it to be as everyone else made it out to be, there was no way that it would be.

First, I want to say that I am in no way complaining about my college experience right now. It has been such an insightful journey that I would honestly not change for the world. You might be wondering why I'm addressing my college experience so positively even though it's quite obvious that it has been abnormal. It's because I see my journey now similarly to my journey with Christ. 

...what does that mean?

Great question!! As much as we want it to be, our relationship with Christ will not be perfect every single day. Why? Well first of all, we're human and we're sinners, just like Paul writes in Romans 3:23-24: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus". Second of all, life happens and exists. Bad things happen and it's hard to see the light within our darkness. Good things happen and we feel like we're on top of the world. When using the analogy of COVID, there will be 'regulations', more like life obstacles, that will occur within our lives that push us to depend on Christ differently. Just like we were out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer for a few months last year, we'll be running low on spiritual fuel. We'll be placed in new situations with new people and new battles that force us to shift our lives. 

Luckily, there is one constant. 

Praise God for the never changing love of Jesus Christ. Even amidst the battles and struggles over the past year throughout the pandemic, He remains King and He remains true to His promises. Isaiah 43:1-2 states: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." When a pandemic faces us, we are still held up by the promises of God. When social calamity is surrounding us, God remains the same. 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." 
​- Hebrews 13:8