Finding Comfort in the Right Place

By Micaela Dickhof
​
Academic evaluations coming back, rain stowing away in the clouds and knowing full well it’s waiting for the right time to fall heavy. It’s difficult to remember your talents, your story and your inherent worth in God’s kingdom when doom and gloom is evident. May I remind you friends, how amazing God’s comfort is compared to the comfort of secularism – drowning your sorrows in Netflix binges, mounds of junk food and unsolicited or vague advice.

“It’s just one assignment/midterm/paper (insert whatever applies to your program)”

“Let’s hit the bar” 

​“You’re going to kill the final”  
​
I find that Fall is a particularly difficult season, when days become shorter and motivation is nowhere to be found, especially after you receive some less than satisfactory feedback from a professor or supervisor at work. You start to notice that people withdraw a bit more, busying or distracting themselves from the reality of this time of year. The colder weather isn’t particularly pleasant and natural human nature makes us avoid change. Change in season, change in pace, change in relationships, change in routine. We like what is consistent; we crave comfort.

Did anyone else watch all the episodes of Stranger Things in a day? No? Just me? Okay. 

Perhaps you found something else recently to take your mind off midterms, off that problem at work, that fight with your significant other or that paper you meant to start 3 days ago.
  
My devotions are less frequent and I find shame in bringing my brokenness and failures to my King. I think it’s easier to admit and relate to peers in failing at something because as humans, we are imperfect. Competent students recognize this: we are in constant need of repair. Admitting our faults is necessary and drives forgiveness from our Father. He is waiting with open arms, calling us back and providing the sweetest of comforts. I cannot emphasize enough how SWEET this comfort is. For me, it had to start with prayers of a willing and open heart again. A heart that searches for redemption and a deeper relationship with God as opposed to achievement-based faith. 
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
​
Seeking God during a busy season, in a disappointing time in your life is hard. I get that. That’s me – I also need this constant reminder (this post is just as much for you as it is me). I just want to encourage you all to seek Him first for whatever is on your heart, whatever is troubling your soul. He is a great source of comfort, our Father, and wants the best for us. His plans are greater than ours and He may be guiding you in a direction that isn’t even on your radar now. Consider your value to Him, the one who knows you deeply and loves you regardless of your flaws, awkward stumbles and poor midterm grades. You are invaluable. You are one of a kind. 
BUT, you’ll also probably kill the final so it’ll all be good. ;)