With midterms and papers galore this week, it is easy to lose sight of the most important things in life: our Father in heaven and His son’s sacrifice for us. It seems to makes sense when we’re overwhelmed with work to put our faith on the back burner. I have told myself:
I know I should serve more, but I’ll start doing that as soon as this week is over.
Reading my Bible is important, but I just don’t have time now. I’ll pick it up again soon.
I’d pray if I had time, but I don’t at the moment. I’ll make up for it later.
I want to share my faith more, but I just can’t squeeze it in. I can do it next semester.
The problem is that I never really have more time. My life is always busy. There’s always another test, another event to plan, another Ichthus post to write. Even when I’m on break, I manage to fill up my time with visiting friends and attempting to tackle my infinitely long reading list. More importantly, if I’ve been neglecting my walk with God for even a little while, it makes it that much harder to take the first couple of steps. My spiritual legs are weaker because I haven’t exercised them in a while.
Even though I’ve been through this experience several times in my short time as a Christian, I always forget what I’ve seen is true. I worry: if I don’t get this grade, how will I get into grad school? If I don’t make money, how will I pay to go to church? If I don’t take on a bigger role as a board member in this club, what will I put on my résumé? I forget that I have the almighty God working on my side to give me everything I need.
Admittedly, I can’t use that as an excuse all the time. I shouldn’t pray for five hours a day at the expense of my studies; we are called to be disciplined and hard workers as well. But I have found that when I sacrifice that little bit of extra time to give it to God, He makes sure my grades don’t suffer. When I decide to go to church one night in spite of the paper I have due in the morning, I still find the time to finish. When I take a half-hour break from writing to pray, I work more quickly afterward. I have experienced the truth of the promise that Jesus gives us in Matthew 6:28:
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This week, I know I need to be reminded of this promise. I thought you might need it, too. Now I have to start studying for my midterm tomorrow…