The College Influence on a God Girl's Heart

Three short weeks ago, I reached a milestone in many kids' lives. I left home and moved into a college apartment. Not only was I 2 and 1/2 hours away from the church that I grew up in, but I was away from my support group. I left my family, friends, and community behind. I no longer had my comfort zone.

Before I left for college, I researched potential churches that I could become involved in. I wasn't about to drive 2 and 1/2 hours to church every sunday. So, I found a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod that had sermon and bible study hours that would fit with my now busy college schedule.

So then came my first sunday at college. I woke up in time to get ready but found myself with cold feet. I immediately text my mother for support. I told her that I was scared because I didn't know anyone at the church or really in the community. I haven't met anyone that would be willing to go to church with me. I didn't think that I could handle it. She reassured me, telling me that it would be okay to miss church today and she would drive next weekend to go to church with me. This is the amazing support group that I had to leave behind.

Friends Versus Churh

I have one friend that is attending the same college as me. She doesn't go to church nor does her family. My roomate says she believes in God but believes that you do not need to attend church to be a believer. Everyone else I know would be hungover or sleeping. Do not get me wrong. Those that I have met in college and have surrounded myself with aren't necessarily bad people, they are just very far from God. They are good to me and fun to be around. But they would not be the type of people that would go to church by choice.

Boredom Versus Sin

I have class Monday through Thursday each day ending at 1:30 pm specifically so we can get jobs. After a lengthy and disappointing job search I am still a jobless, moneyless, homesick college student. I have finished both of my devotionals and find myself wanting some Religious readings but I do not have the money to buy a new devotional nor does my mother. So I spend my time with my friend from home. We waste away the boredom by watching movies, exploring Des Moines, and trying to meet new people. The entire time we constantly say, "I'm bored." Have you ever heard the common saying "idle hands are the devil's workshop"? I can see now what this saying really means. I don't have much to keep me busy. I hang out with friends who cuss and enourage bad behavior, are very sexually active, and never bring up any word or subject of God.

I find myself with a Sailor's mouth as well and I feel guilty everytime I run it. I am not blaming my friends because it started years ago. I have tried so hard to quit. I pray to God every night to help to realize the moments that I use bad language and stop myself. That is the problem: I have become so accustomed to using bad language that I don't even know when I am using it anymore.

Me Versus Society and Sex

I find myself being surrounded by sexual activity, constant talk about sexual activity, media containing sexual activities, and constant presentations by Planned Parenthood passing out condoms. Sex has become so "normal" and "unpersonal". I am pure and I plan to be until I get married. If you go to a party (even if you don't drink), you are bombarded by boys who think that you are "easy." Then they get mad when you turn them down. You can't even find many clothes that cover more than your cleavage anymore. "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins people committ are outside their body, but those that sin sexually sin against their own bodies." (1 Corin. 6 18-19).

Me Versus my faith

Lately I have just felt like I am failing God. I haven't gone to church, opened the Bible, and haven't prayed like I should. I cuss. I joke about unGodly things. I want so bad to find some friends who can discuss and share the Bible with me. I want to feel like a good person again. I feel like I am standing in a desert asking for rain when I try to involve my friends in my religion and church.

God, I am sorry that I have not prayed to you every day and that I have not shown you my complete loyalty. I ask that you please forgive me, renew me, and lead me throughout my days so that I may become the person that you want me to be. I ask that you be there for the other girls that are having similar problems as me that you will help keep them strong in their everyday decisions. Finally I ask that you help me in finding a support group that will help me become stronger in my Faith. Amen.

My Message

The message that I am trying to get across to whoever reads this is that college is going to cause many speedbumps and potholes in your own road of faith. But you just have to keep trying your hardest and praying to God that you will be strong enough to overcome society's negative influences. Please pray for me as I am in a very rough part of the road of faith. Thank you.

Tags: college, comfort, faith, friends, influences, sex, sin, society, zone

2 members like this

Next Post >

Comment

You need to be a member of God Girl to add comments!

Join God Girl

Comment by Saskia Dillen on November 23, 2012 at 4:43pm: Ok, so it seems that I am commenting on one of your posts again!! :)

I think what you have mentioned is something that a lot of people go through, myself included.

I don't have a good support group, and have never been blessed with one. My parents are not religious, but my mother is more "spiritual" then anything else.

It gets lonely, and it is extremely difficult to be strong in your faith when you feel like there's no one you can talk to.

God heard me, and he sent me a friend that opened my eyes to Him when I needed it most. I don't see this friend all the time, but knowing that there is at least one person to talk to about God - that makes all the difference.

I am glad that you have taken the step to come to the God Girl Community, and surround yourself with Girls whose hearts are turned toward the Lord.

As for the swearing - I can relate! I used to swear a lot! It is really difficult to stop. But in the end, it's all about trying. You make the decision. You wake up in the morning and say "Lord, today I will try to please you." And then you do. You try. Which is all we can do. We are always going to fail God. We are always going to fall short and sin and let Him down. But then we ask for His forgiveness, and we try harder again tomorrow. God doesn't ask that we're perfect. He knows that's impossible. He just asks the we TRY to be perfect FOR HIM.

Like it says in Samuel 16:7:

But the Lord told Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart."

The Lord will never give you anything you cannot handle. He believes you are strong enough to overcome all these obstacles, and I can see that you are strong in character and strong in heart. You don't need to surround yourself with Godly people. You just need to surround yourself with God. Never be ashamed of Him. He is not ashamed of you. And every day, just try and be better for Him. Try and swear a little less. Start thanking Him out loud. These small steps can lead to great changes in your life and the way you see yourself. Ungodly people may not like it, but they don't have to. We are not here to serve anyone but Him.

I will pray for you. I believe you have the potential to overcome this. You are stronger than you think.

Many blessings. Always.