Staying Close To God: Stress and Busyness

As we students approach this season of high stress and busyness with finals week around the corner, and a new semester drawing near, we are faced with the struggle of leaning into Jesus when we feel like we have no time for anything. Despite the words that Jesus speaks in Matthew 11:28 when He says “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.”, we tend to search for comfort and rest in every other place besides the source.

In an interview with Vanguard University’s Associate Pastor Krystal Baca-Matthews, she gives wisdom from her personal experiences with stress in the last year as she recently started a masters program, got engaged, and planned a wedding. She states “We sometimes think we’ll be okay without it [spending time with God], but we don’t realize how much not making it a priority just adds to our feelings of being overwhelmed.” Krystal discusses her efforts in putting God first in the midst of busy seasons through being intentional in her devotional time and utilizing the SOAP method which stands for; Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. In implementing this into her quiet time, Krystal mentions how she has been able to be more aware of when her mind is straying away from what Jesus says in his word. 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” 

Matthew 6:33

As we students are on this journey of pursuing a degree and future career, we can often lose sight of why we started in the first place. Krystal encourages us students with these words, “Sometimes it’s so easy to get stuck in the present with all of the chaos, but it’s important to keep your focus on what is to come.” She goes on to express how our time in college is our main ministry as God prepares us for life after we graduate. She says with intent, “You’re giving these 4 years to God as preparation, give it all you’ve got and I believe that God will see that faithfulness and bless it.” 

To the students who feel like things are getting too tough, be encouraged by Krystal’s words when she says “God doesn’t waste a sacrifice, a pain, or a tear, he uses it all to bring honor and glory to His name!”.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.” 

Proverbs 3:5-6