Change of Support

I was talking to my friend and mentor the other day about different things that are going on my life, frustrations and joys, and she kind of gave me the I told you so that got me thinking. She said, "I told you this year would challenge you in new ways and stretch you and look, I was right." I started thinking about that and everything that has happened in my life since I got into college. It has been crazy. I know this year still has a lot to hold, but I feel like I have already learned a ton. I think at the moment, the biggest thing God has been showing me is that my rock and my foundation is in Him, not anyone else. I have always been a big people person. I grew up in my church and have only visited other churches a few times. I pretty much know everybody or at least know who they are, and it is not a little church at all. People are important to me. I learn from them, I interact with them, I laugh with them, and I just want to spend time with them. This school year has brought changes to my friendships. Over the year I have seen my closest friendships slowly fade away. There are several adults that are involved in my life as accountability partners and encouragers, but, with a few exceptions, the people that are my age that are close to me have mainly slipped out of my life for various reasons. It has been interesting to see how less and less I spend time with my friends, partly because of busyness with school and other things, but partly because God is showing me that my strength comes from Him. At first I fought it tooth and nail. I was not gonna let my friends slip away. I was gonna do whatever it took to get them back. God had other plans. While sometimes I want things to be back to the way they used to be, I see what God is doing and it amazes me. Lately I've enjoyed just spending more time alone. I do hang out with my friends, just not like I used to. He is showing me that my world is wrapped up in Him, not what my friends are doing. It has been interesting learning in that moment when I just want to vent to a friend, to just talk to Him about it. I am by no means perfect about that, but it is getting better. I still talk to people:) Just ask anyone that knows me. I talk too much. I am very thankful for the college to young adults bible study I've been going to. That has been a huge encouragement to me, especially when I feel my support system changing. This all reminds me of one of my favorite verses:

Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

another big verse for me is

Psalm 61:2

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.