a college paradox: trusting in god's will

-4 cups of imposter syndrome

-2 tablespoons comparison

-1 cup of self-doubt

-a splash of rejection

These characteristics combine to make the perfect recipe for (you guessed it) a natural and necessary part of human development. Sorry, was that not what you were expecting? The list could go on and probably sounds familiar to most.

Many young, high school minds long for the day when they get to open a letter or login to a portal and see the powerful words "Congratulations! You've been accepted." So you got in...now what? Fast forward a few months to millions of eager 18 year olds embarking on college move in road trips, marking the start of a part of their lives that "you'll never forget." Following a welcome week full of overly energetic orientation advisors, intense school spirit events, and countless speed friending sessions, classes begin. Your spirits are high as you walk into your 9:00 a.m. lecture only to overhear your freshmen peers in the seats behind you talking about their internships and work experience. Your morale has taken a hit, but it is still the first day and you remain optimistic. With a smile on your face, you sit in the dining hall to hear a completely different set of freshmen talk about the research they have been conducting alongside their upper division chemistry professor. What's wrong with me? Should I be doing more? Is there something that I'm missing? What does everyone have that I don't?

If you think you've blown God's plan for your life, rest in this: you, my beautiful friend, are not that powerful. You are exactly where you need to be. There will always be someone smarter than you. There will always be someone more "accomplished" than you. Comparison is the thief of happiness. Surrender your worries at the foot of the cross, and walk away knowing that God is the only one who can take you to where you need to be. God has an intricate plan for each and every one of us, so why assume that you can take the wheel and assert that your will is greater than His?

Jesus, I surrender myself to you.

Amen.