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

DAY ONE: God says let there be light. IUPUI student receives their first syllabus.

DAY TWO: God creates the sky. IUPUI student is excited to go to class.

DAY THREE: God creates dry ground. IUPUI student feels up to their neck in homework and tests.

DAY FOUR: God completely shows off by creating the sun, moon, and stars. IUPUI student turns to coffee and late nights to try and finish all that has been assigned to them.

DAY FIVE: God goes to the sky and to the sea, creating fish and birds. IUPUI student wishes they could fly out of their 4 hour lab to a place far, far away.

DAY SIX: God shocks the world by creating animals, followed up by the first two human beings (Adam and Even). IUPUI student can see progress that has been made and wonders how they've made it this far. They also wonder how they'll have enough drive to make it through the rest of this semester.

DAY SEVEN: God rested from all His work. IUPUI student scratches head, wondering when there is time to rest.

The days of creation are a great example of what we were created to do: worship and create, worship and create, worship and create. We are creative beings that were made by the ultimate Creative Being. Yet in the midst of a semester -- creativity can seem the furthest thing that the college student is accomplishing. It may seem like you are just maintaining to make it, instead of flourishing the way God intended the college student to flourish in a semester's time.

The key is day seven, and yet there never seems to be time for day seven. We recycle to day one and start all over again, without any refueling.

Check out another take on the seventh day, found in Exodus 31:17:

It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.

How is it that God was refreshed? Isn't God always on the top of His divine game? Psalm 121 says that He doesn't even sleep or get tired. So what does this verse mean, and how does it apply to the college student?

The word for refreshed is literally translated as RE-SELFED. When God rested it was just God being God. It was Himself being Himself. It wasn't just an example for us, it was a way of being that God continues to be. 

So, here are five great ways for you, in college at IUPUI, to RE-SELF yourself. (That was an odd sentence!)

1. ROUTINE, ROUTINE, ROUTINE Try to go to sleep and wake up and the same times during the weekdays. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel and how much more motivated you'll become.
2. BIBLE TIME IS UNTOUCHED Just like showering, teeth brushing, eating, bathroom time, etc. are all non-negotiable -- so should time spent in the Bible. Allow God to refresh you with his very words. Make time for personal Bible study and group Bible study. If God is #1, he always seems to provide the necessary time for all things school related.
3. SERVE SOMEONE Make a point to do at least one act of kindness toward someone during each day. Encouragement note, txt, tweet, or something like that. Share a verse with someone. Buy someone's lunch. Get someone a cupcake. Serve at a food bank. Do something that is beyond yourself and your schedule.
4. EAT YOUR FAVORITE MEAL Do I need to say more? Eating junk makes us feel like junk. At least once a week, eat your favorite meal. Take your time while you eat it. Refuel. Relax. Laugh. Eat it with others.
5. WAKE UP ON SUNDAY MORNING If Jesus could... oh... say... raise from the dead on the first day of the week -- so we should be able to get up and worship with a wide range of Jesus followers. Old, young, tall, short, employed, unemployed, etc... you get the point. The church is meant to edify each other and bring honor and glory to God on Sundays. You are really missing out if you are miss this. There are great churches nearby IUPUI. Here are a few that we love: www.chapelrock.org www.kingswaychurch.org www.thecreek.org www.plainfieldchristian.com 

God's will never involves us hating our lives, no matter what the circumstances are (Philippians 4:4). 

Maybe the problem lies with us not taking the time to re-self, refresh. 

We are praying for you to make it!

Andrew Hodges // Volunteer Lead Campus Minister