Freshman year? That is the question.

Did it just pass by like the blink of an eye, or was I dreaming?

Did it force me to uproot, move all of my stuff into a cramped room and live with a stranger for a full 9 months?

Did it insist upon spending hours on homework, studying subjects that I’ll never take again?

Did it put me in situations in which I had to discern the Lord’s voice?

Did it demand weekends away from home?

Did it cause me to be intentional with friendships more than ever before?

Yes.

To all of the above.

As this long, exhilarating, challenging, incredible year comes to a close, reflecting on it reminds me of God’s constant faithfulness. It’s my favourite thing about His character. Coming into college, I thought that I would be surrounded by passionate Christ-followers. This mindset and reality clashed during my first month at Samford. But as the months passed and I looked at the plank in my own eye, I realized that if I was holding everyone to a certain standard, I should be doing the same. God has overwhelmingly blessed me with friends who challenge me to pursue the Lord fervently. They are constantly encouraging me, but also keeping me accountable when I lose sight of the cross.

What did God teach me about myself? That I’m stubborn, I like to be in control, I fail him every hour, and I am a sinner in need of grace. What did God remind me of Himself? That He’s after my heart, He’s the One in control, He lavishes grace upon me, and He never gives up on me no matter how many times I fail Him.

That’s quite a lot to process. But that’s partly because it was quite a year.

I think one verse that would sum up this freshman “college experience” (if one could limit a year to a verse) would be Colossians 1:10: “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”

To all my sweet new and old friends who are reading this, you are treasured! Thank you for being intentional.

Here’s to my first blog post! Happy blogging to me!