Have you ever felt like life won’t slow down? Felt like there is so much to do but not enough hours in the day to do them? Does it seem like you don’t have enough time in the world to do the things you want to do? Have you ever had so much on your mind of things to do, that you can’t seem to think straight?
I am in this exact state now, and it is not a welcoming feeling!
Senior year is said to be a breeze. They say that you will have more free time, more time to relax, and more time to enjoy the last few months of college. This turned out to be a joke to me!
I thought just that with my 14 credit hours in student teaching, but I was so so wrong! It is mainly my fault for it all too, because I like to be busy and be involved. I want to make memories and have a social life. However, sometimes I don’t know when to stop myself until its too late and I am highly overwhelmed. On top of all that, I am fundraising for this wonderful journey of the World Race. How do I do it and still manage to be standing on my two feet? Well, God is the only answer to that!
These last few weeks have been stressful beyond dreams! I was so overwhelmed and wasn’t getting enough sleep from my growing to do list. I was running from place to place without knowing when the next time will be to just slow down and breath. I also got a little sick which took a lot of my strength and time to fight it. Due to all the built up stress and overwhelming schedule, I had a few break downs.
I was no longer being the intentional me I wanted to be, but was just passing by with what I had. This wasn’t me though, this wasn’t what I wanted to look like. I wanted to be fully intentional for my students, fully their for my friends, and fully there for myself. I don’t want to be sleep deprived, sick, and giving only 25% of what I can do. I often put God on the back burner too because “there wasn’t enough time in the day.”
However, through it all, God was still present and still giving me hope and life to carry on. During my sick and tired state, I prayed to God for strength and help. He did just that and more too. Near the end of the week, when I should be more tired, God gave me strength. He gives me the time I needed and the strength I needed to carry on. I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have a God who strengthens you in your weakest moments. Who gives you good days right after your bad days. Who puts people in your life to uplift you and give you strength and hope for the future. I cannot begin to explain how blessed I am to know that God will give me the strength I need to continue moving forward.
Life can be stressful and overwhelming. It can seem busy and out of control. However, when God is our constant and our foundation; our schedules don’t look so daunting. Remember to take time out of your day to just sit down with God and breath in His presence. It’ll give you a whole new outlook on life’s daunting task.
Sometimes just taking the time to just breath and talk to God gives me the exact strength I need to continue moving forward. Sometimes this time is found in my car driving to my school or other places, sometimes its during my planning period or lunch, sometimes its when I get home from a long day. Finding that little bit of time can make a world of a difference in the long run.
So slow down, breath, and reflect on God for a few short minutes.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
May God bless you,
Laura Leigh Armstrong
