Keeping up with the Expectations

Today was stressful...

It was the day I realized that Georgia having a snow day tends to set class schedules at a new pace - a faster one.  Being in college, professors seem to expect that all their students have plenty of time to finish busy work.  However, most of us are busy young adults who are trying to work and learn how to be independent.  Throwing school work that may not always be necessary just makes stress worse.

And you know what is even harder about all that?  Keeping up with people's expectations.  We all have family members, bosses, and, in some cases, professors.  It's not easy feeling like there are so many standards to live up to and so many deadlines to be met.  Sometimes, on top of all the busy hustle of life, adding in time with God gets difficult.  Then what happens?

Guilt creeps in.  Personally, I struggled with guilt about my faith for years.  I always felt like trying to live up to others' expectations was socially acceptable, but that it put be farther from God.  So I decided I must be doing something wrong.  Perhaps I needed to learn to pray on the go or read my bible on my lunch break or before class starts.  Then what happens is this: I get more homework one week and I end up reading a textbook instead of a bible at break time. 

In spite of all the expectations we feel from both the spiritual and physical aspects of life, I have learned the most important thing is to communicate with God and focus on what he expects of me.  Often, if you look to God and really listen for His voice, other areas of life will start to feel less pressured and tense.  It's amazing.  It's not always easy.  Even today, I have given in to some of the anxieties of life.  However, God is always there and He's just waiting for me to run into His open arms. 

I pray that anyone who reads this will have a blessed, non-stressful week!  Remember, God heals all the pains, stresses, and afflictions of this life.  He is all-sufficient for us.

God bless,
Julia