The Biggest Thing I Did to Prepare for College

As all of you know, I am an overthinker and a worrier. I don't really like change, and so for a while, I just avoided processing the fact that I am going to be moving to college soon. But, I knew how my brain worked, and I quickly decided to start praying through it, and I'm happy to say that God has truly done so much inside work in me to help me get ready for this new season of life.

And that's it, friends. That's the biggest thing I've done to prepare for college.

Prayer.

Prayer is so incredibly powerful, and I think sometimes we pray with litte faith because we forget how much authority and power it truly has. It becomes our last resort, last ditch option when we have nowhere else to turn. But when we approach prayer in the right way, we have the privilege to watch God moving all around us.

I knew I couldn't handle the transition to college alone, and no amount of planning would get me ready either. So I brought it to the cross, every single area, and prayed over and over again. I prayed for community, for my classes, for my finances, for peace, for it all.

And God came through.

Every time.

We shouldn't be surprised, because that is what God does, after all, but it's just been so amazing to see the hand and favor of God over this big change. I've noticed my attitude towards leaving move from avoidance to confidence. Of course, there's so many bittersweet emotions, but I have so much trust that the same God who carried me throughout everything I faced in high school will carry me through everything I have to face in college. I've watched as everything has fallen into place from college, from my amazing roommate I met two days after the application opened to huge scholarships. God has covered each and every thing, and I'm so grateful.

As I prayed over college, my faith began to grow. My anxiety eased because I didn't have to do it alone, but the Almighty God was carrying me through it.

As I prayed, I was reminded of His faithfulness before, that will only continue. Scripture came to mind to comfort me.

As I prayed, I saw God move in big ways.

As I prayed, God prepared my heart and began training me to rely on His strength and discernment instead of my own.

As I prayed, I recognized the fruit of the Spirit rising up in me - joy, peace, patience.

Prayer is the biggest thing that has helped me prepare for college.

So pray. Get on your hands and knees and cry out before God. Write them out in a journal or scream them at the top of your lungs. Worship and dance or lay down and weep - whatever your spirit needs, pray. Whether its for an upcoming transition or a longtime prayer request, come before the Lord continually and faithfully, because He will move. He will come through, and transformation will come. He will work in your heart and the world around you in ways you never ever expected, but oftentimes, we only are able to experience and recognize those blessings when we are faithful and passionate in our prayer.

It's not complicated, but I think that's how God intended it. It's not hard to access our Heavenly Father or experience His hand in our situations, and I'm so thankful for that. We get to readily communicate and lean on God for all things, and what a blessing that is!

Of course, I have spreadsheets and lists and a full Amazon cart. I've watched videos and created a Pinterest board and done all the things, but none of that compares to how prayer has truly changed my heart and my mind to be ready to embark on this new journey.

Ready or not, Emporia here I come!

(Next week, I'm going to be talking about how Koa and I have been preparing to go to college. It's not a complicated answer, but it has been the most benefical for us. Tune in for next Tuesday!)