Strength as My Anchor
It is well known that ‘life’ isn’t easy. Society calls for a strong front in the face of tragedy, every single time you get hit with a metaphorical hard brick in your face. How do people remain calm?
I have not reached the answer to my question. Trust me, I’m still working on it.
HOWEVER, I have learnt from previous experiences that my role as a Christian in this troubled, uneasy world is to be at peace in the wings of our Lord and thank Him for everything I have been through because to my surprise, strength comes from the smallest prayer said and the calmest of minds that don’t normally exist amongst college students.
It doesn’t need second awakening to know that over the past six years I have lost a couple of important people in my life and heaven knows how much I miss them. How do you deal with the grieving process that gets reinforced every few months in the year? It has been incredibly hard on me, let me be honest. A verse in Isaiah tells us that God has the power to strengthen you during your worst, and we needn’t be dismayed; his right hand is constantly on us, protecting us wherever we go! (Isaiah 41:10). How reassuring.
I am constantly reminded of the line pronounced by St. Francis of Assisi – “Make me an instrument of your peace”.
Our lives are called to be led on an uneasy path that will eventually lead to our success stories, but the wait till the final prize is long and unstable, and we really need to know that our hearts can take it; our minds should not lose hope. “Take heart! I have overcome the world”. We are blessed to be called the children of the most loving Savior and friend and we should be thankful for that.
I have led my life knowing that I am who my Lord has created me to be, safely and securely in my mother’s womb. How amazing is it to know that you are loved and protected, regardless of what you go through? This is strength to me, this is my anchor. I have kept my faith up knowing that the people I have lost over the last few years are with me in spirit everywhere I go and they will continue to be at the pinnacle of all the decisions I have made and will continue to make through my journey in Graduate school.
This is strength in the Lord; this is always going to be the anchor that keeps me from falling.
Find your strength; search for your anchor.
Trust that the Lord knows who you are and where you are headed. He will get you through it all.
Rhea Mathew, Graduate Student in Impact at IUPUI