Ich kann es.
The semester is over! I just finished my last exam (who schedules a 3 hour final at 8pm, by the way? Like really. I'm pooped!) and rather than going straight to bed I lay here awake thinking about the semester. I don't think I gave myself enough credit for the things I learned these last 14 weeks. I definitely experienced a learning curve and there were times my faith was pushed to the limit: with myself and with God. The most valuable lesson this semester I learned, I think, was that I CAN trust in God. I have an actual ability to. It's not just that I should or would like to trust Him, but rather than I have the actual capability of possessing faith and trust in my heart and mind. I love the difference in German between können, wollen, sollen, müssen, möchten, and dürfen. These modal verbs offer more clarity by way of literal meaning in German than they do in English, and if I could rewind the clock to January 9 and tell my past self one thing at the beginning of the semester it would be "du schaffst es, du kannst es."
God answered a lot of prayers for me this semester. Many were tender & quiet confirmations of feelings of peace and reassurance letting me know that He approved of what I was doing, and that I was (and am) doing the right thing. Others were unexpected bursts of light and goodness that I was compelled to my knees in gratitude to thank the Lord for such an unexpected tender mercy. Looking back on the difficulties of the semester (as well as the good times), I can see how He stood by me the entire way. He was there in my frustrations and impatience to soothe and comfort. He was there in my moments of overwhelming stress and He helped me clear my mind to regroup and focus. He rejoiced with me in times of accomplishment and success. He wept with me when times were tough. He stood by me when declaring truth, and He offered me His strength to stand when all I could do is kneel. I've long had a testimony of the truth that God will never forsake us, but today it was neat to reflect on my personal experience and watch my testimony grow as I think about all the times this semester I saw His hand personally, individually in my life.
Even when things are going well, I am grateful for a God Who knows me, His daughter, perfectly. I am grateful for Someone who listens to the quiet aching of my heart, a yearning of my soul, and Who replies with a gentle presence of peace and light. Through whatever medium He may answer His daughter - be it a song on the radio or kind message from a friend or feeling of serenity at the end of my day - I recognize these "coincidences" as tender mercies and answers. In them, I remember that He lives and that He listens. He is there, and I know He will never, no never, forsake.
Mit ihm, kann ich alles. Mit ihm, werde ich alles. Dank ihm.
- Nat
God answered a lot of prayers for me this semester. Many were tender & quiet confirmations of feelings of peace and reassurance letting me know that He approved of what I was doing, and that I was (and am) doing the right thing. Others were unexpected bursts of light and goodness that I was compelled to my knees in gratitude to thank the Lord for such an unexpected tender mercy. Looking back on the difficulties of the semester (as well as the good times), I can see how He stood by me the entire way. He was there in my frustrations and impatience to soothe and comfort. He was there in my moments of overwhelming stress and He helped me clear my mind to regroup and focus. He rejoiced with me in times of accomplishment and success. He wept with me when times were tough. He stood by me when declaring truth, and He offered me His strength to stand when all I could do is kneel. I've long had a testimony of the truth that God will never forsake us, but today it was neat to reflect on my personal experience and watch my testimony grow as I think about all the times this semester I saw His hand personally, individually in my life.
Even when things are going well, I am grateful for a God Who knows me, His daughter, perfectly. I am grateful for Someone who listens to the quiet aching of my heart, a yearning of my soul, and Who replies with a gentle presence of peace and light. Through whatever medium He may answer His daughter - be it a song on the radio or kind message from a friend or feeling of serenity at the end of my day - I recognize these "coincidences" as tender mercies and answers. In them, I remember that He lives and that He listens. He is there, and I know He will never, no never, forsake.
Mit ihm, kann ich alles. Mit ihm, werde ich alles. Dank ihm.
- Nat
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