“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

           “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We’ve all been asked this question at some point as a kid. Answers could range from being an astronaut or doctor to a zookeeper or superhero. Whatever explanation we had, we probably had a period where we truly believed that was what we were going to be, but that phase probably came and left as we got older. However, I believed in my answer from 5th grade until I was well out of high school. I wanted nothing more than to be a race car driver, and for a while, I was blazing my own path (with the help of my family and sponsors) to fulfilling that dream, until everything changed and I let God have control over what I was controlling for so long.

           I grew up in a small North Texas town where high school football is king in a family with its roots deep in motorsports. My Grandpa drag raced, and both he and my Dad raced motocross, so it was a high probability that my brother and I would grow up working on and pushing the limits of something with an engine and two or four wheels. I found my passion and life in racing when I started racing karts at the age of eleven. I quickly had success, piling up wins and track championships before eventually moving up to sprint cars. This is what ultimately led me to Indiana from Texas just after I graduated High School in 2015. The success I was having led to me to drive for the late Bryan Clauson, who is, in my opinion, the best sprint car and midget driver in USAC history. Indiana is the mecca you go to if you want to make it in racing and that’s why I was coming here, to do precisely that.

           Solomon writes in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” I had my life all planned out, or so I thought. I was going to race for one of the best USAC sprint car and midget teams, Bryan Clauson Racing, make my Mom happy by getting a Mechanical Engineering degree from IUPUI while still racing, and I was going to continue finding my worth and identity in the satisfaction that racing gave me. I grew up in a Christian home and went to Church my entire life, so in my mind, I was doing all of this with 1 Corinthians 10:31 as my motto, to glorify God, but I wasn’t truly trusting God with this and placing Him above everything. I had made a god, an idol, out of racing and the self-gratification that it gave me. It was about the time that I thought that my path to being an established full-time driver was finally starting to gain traction that my idol of racing came slowly crashing down. I lost my main sponsor, which caused me to lose funding for that season. Having trouble securing enough funding for the 2016 season, I was left with very little chance of racing. I decided to just help the race team with Bryan’s sprint car and midget for that year and learn more by observing a legend in the sport, while also focusing more on my studies. Then everything really changed in August of that year when Bryan was tragically killed in a crash at a USAC midget race in Belleville, KS. I was already discouraged with my own chances of racing that year, and now, the guy who I (and many others) looked up to as one of the greatest, had died doing what I aspired to do.

           I remember my faith being tested and constantly questioning God. “Why am I here, God?!” “I thought this was where You were leading me?!” But like James 1:2-4 states, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” It was through all of this that God was working in me to make me a new creation in Christ. After all of this happened, I took a step back from racing entirely and focused on getting my M.E. degree. I found a Church home and met a guy at IUPUI, with whom I started studying the Bible. I was growing in my faith. As I did, my eyes were open to how prideful of a man I had been. I was blessed to get an internship to start gaining experience as an engineer, but the more experience I got, the more I felt like engineering wasn’t what I was meant to do. I was again left searching for my purpose. I never thought that I would ever enjoy being around and leading a group of middle school-aged boys, but when I started serving in student ministry at my Church and seeing how God was working in these students’ lives, I discovered a new passion that God had led me to. I’m in my final semester at IUPUI, and I’m looking at a completely different life then I had imagined when I moved to Indiana and started at IUPUI 4 years ago.

           Jesus tells us that He is Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It’s through Jesus that I have found purpose in my life, not through my own selfish desires that this world tells us to follow. The world will tell you to just “follow your heart” (eye roll), but I know from experience that following your heart doesn’t lead to anything good. Following Jesus is the only WAY that leads to a joyful and satisfactory LIFE. My life now is far better than it has ever been, and that’s because of the change God has done in my life. In Romans 8:6, Paul writes, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Oh, how great the peace is that only comes from the Holy Spirit.

Payton Pierce, IUPUI Senior

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if everyone said what they thought? If everyone was so real and honest that they were unafraid to be, say, or do whatever they wanted? I’ve always wondered how differently people would act if they truly knew how friends, teachers, role models, and even family honestly thought of them.

School has always had one constant for me. Through middle school, high school, and even college, I’ve always had a heightened sense of self-image. For me, school was not only a place to learn but also a place to meet new people and build relationships. With that comes the ever-present battle to present yourself in a way that looks good to others. Over the past several years, I found myself contorting to the expectations of others. If a group needs a funny guy I fill that role. If people expect me to be calm and collected, I try and fill that role. Even the church expecting me to be the perfect pastor’s kid had changed my persona.

While none of these things are inherently wrong, they do pose a danger. found myself contorting to so many different perceptions I lost who I sincerely was. Ephesians 2:10 says, “You are God’s masterpiece.” Not the person who contorts to the ways of the world to fit in. Why? Because that’s not really who you are. I got so tangled in who people wanted me to be I didn’t come to appreciate the masterpiece God made me be.

BE YOURSELF, I tell myself, those that pursue you because of the dream they think you are or will become are not worth pursuit. Many times I’ve tried to be a person I wasn’t to fit in with the crowd or to receive admiration. That admiration will never last as long as what is being admired isn’t authentic. I have found that you can lie to yourself so much that you can even begin to change into bits and pieces of the lie you have been portraying. But all that is doing is messing with the masterpiece God made you and me to be!

Year one of college is going to offer you more opportunities than you ever dreamed! I was thrust into a whole new world with new responsibilities and new exciting challenges. I remember the first day being in my apartment with my roommates thinking, “this is it!” College is the time for freedom, time for fun, time for a fresh start. No one knew how cool or uncool I was in high school, no one knew the odd country kid who loved sports and the outdoors, no one knew my flaws. And as the first few weeks of school came and went, I remember going through the routine of meeting people, seeing what they expected of me, and portraying that to receive maximum appreciation and love. I think this was especially evident when it came to those special people who I wanted to be “more than friends” with. I tried to change into the person I thought they wanted me to be so much that it kept them from seeing who I really was. And this cycle continued for the entire school year, and it wasn’t until the summer that I truly realized it.

This summer those kids that I tried so hard to impress and fit in with, I don’t talk to anymore. The kids that expected me to fit a role that wasn’t designed for me are not the ones that I still text and hang out with. I finally realized that all that sacrifice to be the “perfect friend” was honestly just meaningless as the relationships I made through it. All of the relationships that mean the most to me are the ones that know me for who I truly am. The fake that I have portrayed in other relationships has not netted a single meaningful relationship, not one. I think so often we want to be the perfect versions of ourselves instead of just being who God created us to be. The relationships that last are the ones that appreciate you for you because in the end, your true self will always shine through one way or the other. It’s the people that accept you for that person who truly deserve your friendship.

Now I’m not saying all personal change is terrible. In fact, many times, changing yourself in certain ways can be beneficial. However, it’s when we start to change the core, God-given, values of our hearts to please the world that we begin to live that lie. Overall my first-year experience at IUPUI has been amazing, and it has resulted in it many authentic friends that have accepted and loved me for who I am. My involvement in IMPACT has also provided a group of people who just choose to love me for who I am. It’s so freeing to have a place that just simply loves Michael for simply being Michael.

Now to answer my original question, what would I do differently if I truly knew how people felt about me? I would simply do nothing because I don’t want to have to live my life catering to other people's perceptions of me.

All I know is that God loves me for me and if that isn’t good enough for the world, then so be it. I’m just going to be me and let others worry about whether that is good enough for them because I know I have real friends that love me, and a God whose love for me never fails!

Michael Shetler, IUPUI student, Life Group Leader

"Dear Lord, please use me."

Have you ever prayed that prayer? Have you ever asked the Lord to use you?

I truly believe that this idea comes from a good heart, but sometimes I think it can develop or create a passive mindset. I think a lot of time in my own life when I have asked God to use me, I subconsciously think that He will do all the work. Yet lately, as I have been trying to listen and hear God's voice more clearly, I have heard Him say,

"Okay daughter, I've done my part. It's time for you to do yours."

During my time in Ireland and even more so after coming home, God has instilled in me the idea of partnership. I remember one day the pastor spoke on this topic and it shook me. Partnering with God has now become a new foundation for my faith, and is something I really want to grow in. The pastor mentioned that many of us have this default prayer that we often fall back on:

"Dear Lord, please use me."

Once again, I know I have prayed this prayer too many times to count. It is a prayer that says, "Father I desire to make a difference for you in this world." Which is a wonderful thing to pray, don't misunderstand. As I said before, I don't think this prayer is necessarily bad and the heart behind it is inherently good, yet, I believe there is a better prayer we can pray, one with more meaning and power.

"Dear Lord, please partner with me."

By praying for the Lord to use us, we tend to not only sell ourselves but God short. By praying for the Lord to partner with us, we open the door for God to connect with us.

Going back to the sermon I heard in Ireland, the pastor challenged us to start to think about our relationship with God in a new light. God doesn't just want to use you and then move on to the next best thing. No, He wants to partner with you in a life long journey!

You see, you are not just simply a tool that God wants to manipulate or bend to His will. You are not just a robot. You, my dear friend, are able to communicate with the Creator of the World! He did not need to create you, but He wanted to create you. He doesn't want to control you, compel you, or put a spell on you. He wants to care for you, and of course, He wants to help you, but most important He wants to do life with you. He wants to partner with you. Before sin entered the world, what did God do with Adam and Eve? He was with them in the garden. He walked and talked with them. He dwelled among them. Now, presently with the help of the Holy Spirit, He dwells not only with us but within us! All this to say and reiterate God doesn't just want to use you. He wants so much for more you.

I don't know about you, but this is so encouraging, and yet also a real challenge. Not only a challenge to my heart, but also my understanding of God. It is a call to action. I need to stop just expecting God to do everything for me. I have to do my part too. I can't just always ask him to use me. I have to begin to understand that it is a two-way street. This is the point for me when it goes beyond religion and moves into a relationship. It is a chance to grow close to my sweet Savior. I know that God has done and will do everything in his power to help me, but at a certain point a portion it's my turn.

God has already fully committed to me, the question is:

Have I fully committed to Him?

On a surface level, I would like to totally say yes, but some days I don't always feel that way. There some days where I just have to suck it up and put my faith above my feelings, and you know what? That's totally okay, God gets that. We all have our moments and our bad days, but we have the grace to fall back on. It that grace in which I have confidence in. That grace which leads me to be brave and courageous for His name. It is grace that leads me to step out in faith. If I pray for God use me, but I am not willing to step out of the boat, then how can I walk on the water? In the end, God is not going to push me out of the boat, I have to make the choice to step out the boat. Once I step out of the boat, I will not sink. I will not sink, because of my faith and because of His power. It is these two that keep on the top of the water: the partnership of faith and power that keep me afloat. Partnering with God is when things truly begin to shift.

So, this is my new prayer:

Dear Lord, please partner with me.

Molly Robinson, Student in Impact Christian Fellowship at IUPUI

As college students, we are always looking ahead, asking ourselves, “Where will I be in five years? What job will I have? Will I have a family of my own?” One of the biggest takeaways I have received this semester through IMPACT is God is in control. He knows our future. He knows if we will get that job we wanted or get into the school we wanted, because He is the one who gave us these opportunities.

I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa where I was given the opportunity to play basketball here at IUPUI. Not only was I going to be attending a much bigger school than I was used to, but also living in a much bigger city. One of my biggest worries about moving seven hours away from my family and friends was not knowing what to expect or what would be next for me. So, when we first began reading the book of Daniel, I knew this was a sign from God. Similar to Daniel, I have traveled to a new land, a place away from home and everything I have ever known.

I have always been a big planner and not knowing what to expect can make me feel nervous and anxious. So, when I was constantly reminded this semester through reading the book of Daniel, I learned to accept the fact that God knows what He is doing, and I should put my trust and faith in Him and His plan for me.

God has shown me several times just this semester alone that He has a plan for me by placing people in front of me when I need them most.  I recently began volunteer work at the hospital and was afforded the opportunity to work with some very influential individuals that have helped me realize that I am very interested in working in the medical arena. These people show up at random times in my life, and I know it is God’s way.

Not only did I attend the Nights of Worship this semester, but I was also part of a Life Group. My Life Group helped me and my relationship with the Lord grow. They gave me support when I was going through a tough time and were constantly reminding me: God is all-knowing. With this, I have found peace in understanding that my future is in His hands. He has a path carved out for me and it is my opportunity to follow Him and live the life He has set out for me.

There were two verses that genuinely captivated me this semester and kept me still in God:

 “When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I” - Proverbs 26:1

“The Lord is greater than the giants you face” - 1 John 4:4

Agatha Beier, Impact at IUPUI Student

Read more about Agatha here.

The term “passion” is one of the most powerful words in the English language.

In my opinion, to have a passion for something or someone, is saying that you have a nearly uncontrollable emotion for that thing or person. Every person is constantly looking for a passion to dedicate his or her life to and I am no exception. For the longest time I had no idea what my passions were because I wasn’t searching for any.

However, God has repeatedly sparked my brain and revealed one passion that is alive and well inside me: helping people, young and old.

When I started college, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to major in something that was going to allow me to help individuals in some way, but I don’t think I considered it a passion at the time. As each year has passed, my faith has grown and God has turned the passion into more than I could have ever imagined. From experiencing the path of psychology, to granting more volunteer opportunities and teaching responsibilities at my church, to now making me somewhat of a leader for a campus ministry.

Everything I have done has been about helping others. Those are no coincidences. They are without a doubt God showing His supernatural power. The greatest part about it all is that I have received an incredible amount of fulfillment through the experiences I have been blessed with. I honestly don’t know if I can say anything has fulfilled me more.

With that being said, I am excited at where I am at in life. I couldn’t be happier in the opportunity I get to work with the campus ministry I was once a mere semester-long member of. I get the chance to help people by teaching the word of God, which is the most helpful thing I could ever do!

As far as my future is concerned, whether it be school counseling, Christian counseling, or something I never even thought of, I know that my career will involve positively helping individuals one way or another. But who knows, the Lord may instill a new passion in me one day. He tends to do things like that.

Ethan Whitson, Impact at IUPUI 2018-2019 Intern

            We always seem to think that a semester lasts an eternity. It definitely feels that way, as projects have to be done and due dates pile on. We think of ‘eternity’ and ‘infinity’ as just another word. But what exactly is being infinite to us? Can we truly understand the infinity of God?

            I took my first semester calculus this summer so the first thing that comes to mind is a limit that never reaches zero. The graph and number grow smaller and smaller or bigger and bigger with no boundaries. This is partially correct, as math cannot calculate infinity exactly. Infinite does not exist in our human sense. Infinity is something we can say and not imagine, but it’s more of an idea or concept than an actual tangible thing. So, does that make God intangible?

            Isaiah 57:15 tells us a completely different story.

            “For this says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and hold place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly sprit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”’

            I want to focus on the first part of the verse that says God inhabits eternity. Even the greatest mathematicians in the world; specifically, Aristotle, Galileo, and Newton, could never work out what exactly infinity was. Aristotle thought we could have a possible infinity that could be counted or touched. Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan thought infinity could be calculated and found to actually be -1/12. However, all laws of natural physics disagree with this, and why’s that?

            Because God is God, and we cannot understand the depths of his power.

            We as humans always seek answers but God wants us to not try to uncover his glory and power, but just abide in Him and accept that we will never be able to understand Him or control the universe.

            Psalm 50:10-12 says,

            “for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.”

            There is a reason the concept of time is so important to us as humans. It is because we know we are not infinite, we know everything we have and see will come to an end. God isn’t like that; He inhabits eternity and is infinite. Everything He is never ends and all His power will continue. There is no timeline of God: just like you can’t calculate infinity, you can’t measure God.

            So, besides the random Jeapordy facts you now know about math, how does this apply to us?

            It applies to us because we are living under the power of God and His eternal love, both of which are infinite. So, when people complain about infinite classes or tell us to look at the big picture, remember this: God is infinite and we can’t see the big picture, because God is bigger than that and He will always control every small, medium, and large picture imaginable.

God never ends, His love for us never ends, and our devotion and trust in Him should attempt to be the same.

Heather Gordon, IUPUI Student

Well it is finally that time of year every college student looks forward to: the few months that we get a mental break from the constant grind of classes. I have a feeling that I am not alone in saying that making the transition into the summer is a blessing and struggle at the same time. I think the underrated part of college is the consistency of your schedule. Each day you know where you need to be almost down to the minute. You know exactly how much time you have to grab lunch and you know how far back you can push studying to leave just enough time to cram before a test.

With summer it can be different. The summer job schedule may vary. We don’t always know what to expect from work. When we aren’t working, we want to hangout with friends and family. And then on the rare days we don’t have anything on our plates we just want to chill and be with ourselves, not to mention throwing in a summer vacation.

I would like to share that I went through several weeks where I really struggled with my quiet times with God. Specifically, the week I was on vacation and my first week of work. I kept telling myself, “I’m on vacation, it doesn’t matter if I miss a couple days” or “I’m adjusting to my new work place, I’ll figure it out later.” Next thing I knew I was over a week behind connecting with God. What I hadn’t noticed was how it had affected my interactions with others. I had started to become impatient and I realized my thoughts were becoming more cynical.

Far too often I put too much pressure on myself to spend time in God’s word each day that I lose sight of the true reason behind spending time with God. Before it was a way to draw closer to the Creator of the Universe, but now it transpired into something I did just to check it off the list.

Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

In a world that can be so grey and clouded, we, as believers, have a tool that can illuminate the direction we need to follow in our lives.

Hebrews 4:15 “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”

Jesus lived on this earth as a human for over 30 years. He understands the difficulties of life. So why isn’t he our first place to turn when life throws challenges our way?

Here are 3 practical steps to take when spending your quiet time with the Lord each day:

1.     Start by praying. I do a super poor job at this and I often don’t have the right heart when I do pray but it just starts things off on the right foot. I believe that it is important to create the right mindset. It’s like telling God, “Here I am Lord, show me what you want me to learn about you and your character.”

2.     Try to see what the passage of scripture says about God and his character. Even if it isn’t obvious, more than likely something can be learned about who God is. I think the more we focus on God and His character the more the focus turns to loving God for who He is rather than just becoming head knowledge.

3.     End your quiet time with time of silence. It is important to be able to reflect on what you just read and to listen to what God is telling you that day. Far too often, I am guilty of quickly exiting the Bible app and going straight to Instagram or Snapchat. When I do that, I quickly forget everything I just read. Don’t be afraid to start a journal of what you have learned. Sometimes it can super helpful to quickly jot down some thoughts.

These steps will not lead to the perfect quiet time, but what will lead to is solid quiet time with your heart. If your heart isn’t in it, you can’t expect to draw closer to Jesus.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all heart, all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Let’s seek to draw closer to Jesus this summer. Let’s be filled with the desire to seek Him before all else and to seek to bring Him glory.

Troy Dover, Impact at IUPUI, VP of Student Life

Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.‘“ I can still remember the day the Lord told me IUPUI was the exact place He wanted me to spend the next few years of my life. In all my unnecessary restlessness about making the “right” decision on where I was going to college, I was overcome by the peace of Christ once I regularly made it a habit to sit quietly and fully take advantage of the guidance that our Heavenly Father so generously gives us. I was able to wholeheartedly commit to IUPUI and make the decision to continue God’s will for my life.

I naïvely thought that college was a big enough change for my life, but God threw a curveball. My dad got a new job and God began changing our ordinary. My family and I started understanding that God was about to change most aspects of our lives, including where we lived. I spent the summer halfway denying the fact that God would call us to move out of the house my two sisters and I had grown up in for the past 15 years and reluctantly began packing each room. I was packing boxes marked ‘storage unit’ and boxes marked ‘college’. It was not what I thought my summer before my first year at college would look like.  Our house sold very quickly which forced my parents and my younger sister to move in with my grandparents until they either found or built a house to live in. At the beginning of August, I moved out of my childhood house and moved to Indianapolis, a new city where I knew no one. People always say college is a time to completely start over, and I realized my life at that very moment was a perfect example of that.

The first week of school was a rollercoaster. I had to deal with the emotions of not being able to go back to my home and being hours from my family as I tried to process everything. I was surrounded by strangers and had to learn my way around campus. It was the middle of the week and I decided to search for some Christian organizations on campus. That is when I found Impact. Genesis 2:18 says “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” During high school, I was extremely involved in my church’s youth group and I made it a priority to attend every event I could, lead and participate in numerous bible studies, and invest in relationships with fellow believers. I knew I needed and wanted to be able to have the same community in college. I blindly joined a Life Group and began the journey of meeting people and putting in the effort that comes along with being vulnerable with a group of strangers. I also started attending different churches around the Indianapolis area every Sunday by myself in hopes of finding yet another steady community like Impact.

Things with my family got even crazier as the year went on. We initially thought we would only have to move locally, but we received the news that my dad’s new job would force us to move to Illinois. We definitely saw God working through the chaos, but it was still intensely difficult not to become anxious about how long it was taking us to clearly see God’s plan. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” I reminded myself that a lamp doesn’t illuminate miles ahead of my feet. God sometimes only allows me to see a few feet of what is in front of me. My family began our long search for a house in Illinois and my dad began traveling to California each week to complete projects there before making the final move to Illinois.

At some points throughout the year, I got so overwhelmed with all of the change that was happening back home, all of the adjustments that came with being on my own, and the fact that I needed to perform well academically, that I got very ill.  I began realizing that many times during my nightly devotions, God would point me to verses that spoke a lot about steady foundations. Throughout the whole year, God was shaking the parts of my life that weren’t necessarily that important. He was showing me that the worldly things around me, like my childhood house, had no comparison to the things He holds dear to His heart. He kept reminding me that things like building relationships that push me closer to Him, giving my time to people who really needed someone to listen to them (even if I had hours of studying ahead of me or just received a tough phone call from my parents), and striving to continue to build my relationship with Him would bring me more joy and understanding than the things of this world.

School was relentless and the changes in my life continued. My great grandmother, who I was very close to, passed away, some of the relationships in my life were ending because of disloyalty, I struggled with some health conditions, and other extremely difficult situations my family was placed in. For months, my answer to almost any question was “I don’t know.” As I was struggling with not having answers, I was listening to a sermon and the pastor said “If you have all the answers, you probably have a wisdom deficiency.” I laughed to myself and realized that God was calling me to a place of humility and wanted me to stop constantly searching for answers. In Exodus 14, Moses comforted the Israelites by saying, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” I began making it a habit of stopping throughout my crazy day and simply being still.

At the beginning of May, my family finally found a house in Illinois and we are currently in the process of moving into it in a few weeks.  God pulled me from my comfort zone back in August and I can’t say I’ve been back. I can’t help but be grateful for this year of immense growth. Being a part of Impact, gave me a way to gain wisdom and guidance from God. Whether it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me through the songs during Impact Nights of Worship or God speaking through members of my life group, I never doubted that God’s hand was guiding me through the storm.  

Even though I could have easily retreated into a place of loneliness, I told myself I had to put an effort into relationships. I had to knock down my fear of being vulnerable and admit I needed people around me. I was climbing what felt like a never-ending mountain, but I could feel myself growing closer and closer to my Heavenly Father. I challenge you to intentionally build relationships even when it’s hard. Deliberately carve out time in your day to simply sit in the presence of God. Put all your hope in God even when the road is bumpy. I would never change any part of my journey to IUPUI and I will never forget the lessons God has taught me. I am excited to see where God takes me as I continue glorying Him with everything in me.

- Sydney Stevens, Student in Impact at IUPUI

Several years ago I was asked to sing with my mom and sister at a wedding for a family member of ours. We are a very musically inclined family, so this was an exciting experience for us to share. She gave us the song, “It Takes Three”, which I had never even heard of before reading the lyrics. I googled the song to listen to how it’s supposed to sound and the first link said “THE BEST WEDDING SONG!!!” So after listening to it for the first time, it sounded a lot like a cheesy 90s love ballad mixed with an old school Baptist hymn sang by the choir. I can still remember the words today:

“It’s not just what we feel, It’s a precious gift, It’s sent from up above
So with Christ the love grows more and more until the final day
So with our love we celebrate the One Who gave His life away”

            At the time when I sang this song, I was much younger and at a different stage in my life. These words did not stand out to me because I had no romantic connection with somebody yet in my life. I was only in high school so what did I know about love?! I did know, however, about God’s love, and I knew I wanted to make that connection with someone through Christ Jesus someday. 

            Now that I am old enough to understand, I know that relationships are a lot of work. They can be incredible and amazing while at the same time be emotionally challenging and frustrating. Sometimes I believe that God genetically wired men and women very differently (LOL), but relationships are another one of God’s greatest gifts He gives us in this Earthly life. In Genesis, God made man and woman both in His image literally for the companionship of one another, to “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:27-28). This was His gift from the very beginning of time. 

            Now I’m sure we have all experienced heartache from a breakup or a stressful event within a relationship. Maybe you and your boyfriend just broke up after a year and a half of dating. Maybe your girlfriend moved out-of-state and seems to be growing more distant as your time apart increases. These instances in our lives seem devastating at the moment, and if you’re like me, maybe in that moment of fear you were scratching your head, looking up at Jesus, saying, “God, I thought this was my plan!” Sometimes I like to pretend I know what God is doing in my life, and I try very hard to follow what I believe He is leading me to do. It is very difficult when it feels like He’s leading you into a dead end. Well, spoiler alert: God will never lead you down the wrong path. God is the path to the happiness you are searching for.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

            Having fellowship with one another should be something we strive for in both friendly relationships and romantic relationships. It really helps when you have similarities that can provide outlets for conversation, and conversation is a key element to a healthy relationship. The same thing goes for having a relationship with Jesus: the more you connect and converse with Jesus, the closer you will become to Him! Jesus can be just as tangible a friend as your significant other! Jesus gives us the perfect example of how to love one another on Earth.    

            I have been dating my boyfriend for four years now, and like any relationship, we have had our best and worst times. The best moments in our relationship are when we are both fully encompassing our lives with a focus around God and what we have to be thankful for. When I am praying every day for my relationship and appreciating the time we spend together, it’s as if we are back to the first time we met. I can remember those butterflies in my stomach from his small red sports car and his tall, masculine appearance. Another very important element was his Christian influence and background. He is a Christian, which is extremely attractive to another Christian like myself. I believe this is a key factor in our success over the last four years. Those we choose to make connections with should be strong positive influences in our lives, persuading us to be better people and walk more closely with God. 

“We love each other because he loved us first.” 1 John 4:19

            One of the most trying times for us has been this past spring semester. Josh has found an amazing company to work for, one with full health coverage, gym memberships, paid time off, minute commute, and so much more! This blessing has been great as a fresh-out-of-college position, but the company is located merely 4 hours away from Indianapolis. 4 hours away! My mind started to question things about our relationship from the very beginning; questions that made me turn to God for understanding. Why would God lead such a beautiful relationship into this type of challenge? Doesn’t God want us to be happy? My thoughts were often selfish as I looked at my own life and own situation. I didn’t have a new job, a new location, and a new life waiting for me to start. I was stuck, and I was not okay with that. 

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

            Something I have learned over the past spring semester through being a Life Group Leader for Impact is that God can take literally any situation and make it a blessing in our lives. He can take a hardened heart and turn it soft, a broken heart and piece it back together. After helping Josh move into his apartment, his first concern was what church we could go to when I visited. (LIKE WHAT!?!) Church was a priority is his life, what a blessing! I am also continuously seeking God for companionship when I am feeling alone or separated from everyone else. I am praying and reading His Word more than ever before. This connection with God may not have come without the suffering, and I am comforted by that today. 

            It’s moments like these when I stop and realize how it truly does take three to be happily as one. Not every relationship is going to work, but if it is a God-given gift, it will touch your life in so many ways. God will NEVER leave you, and he will never forsake you (Deut. 31:6). That is why it takes three. 

Sarah Fisher, Student in Impact at IUPUI

For almost four years now I have worked at the same Starbucks right off I-65 across from Traders Point Church. At first, I was one of two Christians but now I’m happy to say that more of us have begun a ministry there. At Starbucks, I’ve had many interesting conversations with my coworkers about current events and their worldviews. What I found to be the most common was that God has always opened doors. A conversation that happened about a month ago is one that has struck me the most in our culture today: equality.

            At work, one of my friends, who is a strong feminist and prochoice atheist, asked me about feminism. Now she knows I’m a Christian, I make it quite known, but she never brought it up until a few weeks ago. We were talking about equal rights when she asked me how I can be a feminist for gender equality and still be a Christian. What a great question! My answer, how can’t I support equality and be a Christian? The two go hand in hand.

            She knew the basics of what she had heard, except twisted around for years, of wives submitting to their husband. Colossians 3:18-19 give us very explicit instructions. Wives submit to your husband and husbands love your wife. When my friend heard this passage she instantly thought this meant women were meant to be walked all over. To the contrary it meant we are to be supportive, edifying and loving. It means we are to be cherished. When she asked me the purpose of being submissive I was all too happy to point her to 1 Peter. So, in the tiny dish filled back room of Starbucks we huddled over the desk and my dimly lit phone to read a passage from the Bible. I lead her through 1 Peter 3:1-6.

            Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

            I was happy to discuss what this meant in the 21st century where everything is self-focused and all about seeing social flaws. I pointed out that when a wife is submissive to her husband then the inner beauty of God is shown to the whole world. She then asked me a pretty tough question, “How is being submissive and equal not a paradox?” Ironically enough I’d had a conversation with my pastor over this very same subject the week before.

            My pastor told me that when a wife is equal with her husband she is able to be submissive. In her equality, she is willing to let her husband lead the house as the Lord intended. When spouses are equal the husband leads but he wants his wife’s support, he values her opinion and appreciates her ability to be a jewel of God with a gentle and quiet spirit as verse four says. My friend was startled at my pastor’s answer and asked how we could trust men to be like this. It’s simple, if a man loves God he will not abuse his household power, but use it to help the family grow.

            The man is meant to be the leader of the family unit, which is something our culture has lost in this age. This doesn’t mean the man controls everything, it means he supports and loves his family and leads them closer to God. As a woman I know it’s my job the support the godly men in my life and help them grow into the leaders they are meant to be. When I’m submissive the them, I’m submissive to God. When I support the godly men in my life they in turn support me and help lead me closer to God. It’s a circle of trust and love.

            So, I’d say submission isn’t the problem in the 21st century. I’d say the problem is not being willing to let God show you the way through a support system that means letting others come first. I encourage women, be equal with men, and take advantage of that freedom in equality to be a support system for the men in your life. I encourage men, don’t be afraid to let a woman be your equal, if she truly loves God she will not try to be the head honcho, she will use her equality to voice her opinion then help lead you in the way the Lord has prepared for both of you.

Heather Gordon, Student in Impact at IUPUI