A man with a skin disease came to Jesus. He fell to his knees and begged Jesus, “You can heal me if you will.” Jesus felt sorry for the man, so he reached out his hand and touched him and said, ‘I will. Be healed!’ Immediately the disease left the man, and he was healed.” [Mark 1:40-42]

As another semester starts today, I am forced to face my fears. It’s silly that I even have such fears. I mean, I’ve been to the school before. I know quite a few people that go there. I know my way around campus. But it’s six new classrooms. Six new classmates. Six new professors. It’s an entire new schedule. It’s entirely different classes that require 110% of my effort. It’s class that require 110% of my attention. It’s classes that scare me. I’m stressing over how stressful they’re going to be. It’s really silly, but I feel that way. I’m super scared of not finding parking in that packed parking.

So where’s my faith? I keep talking about how maintaining a strong faith is important, but where’s mine? Why do I keep failing to match my actions with my words? Why can’t I take my ow advice? I should. God wants me to put all my faith in Him. He has shown me time and time again that He is worthy of my trust. He has taken care of me for almost 19 years. He isn’t going to stop now. He loves me. I am His daughter. He wants me to have everything He’s given me. He’s given me so much. He wants to continue to give to me. That’s who He is. He is a God that gives.

My faith must multiply, just like the man who was stricken with disease. He had just enough faith to believe God can heal him. That’s exactly what God did. God wasn’t going to reject his healing. God came down as Jesus to show how caring and compassionate He is. He wants to meet our needs. He wants to meet my needs. He wants to calm the storm around me. He wants to calm the storm that is inside of me. He wants my actions to match my words. He wants me to multiply my faith. He wants me to trust Him. He is worthy of it all. 

Lord, You have blessed me for years. You will continue to bless me today. You have neither abandoned nor forsaken me. You won’t do that today. You are with me wherever I go. You actually want to continue to bless me so my faith can grow even more. You want to do bigger and better things for me. You have already dealt with my professors. You have already dealt with my classmates. I will definitely find parking. It’s not going to be an easy semester; but if I keep at Your feet, it will be rewarding. You are going to guide me and protect me every step of the way. You go before me. You fight my battles from now on. I surrender it all to You. I want to be more like You. The more I see how You work in my life, the more I know You. The more I know You, the more I know myself. I am found in You. May my actions continuously match my words. May You constantly remind me how I am to be like You in every situation I face. I am not alone. I must be patient. Good things await me. I will be spiritually connected with more people soon. I will make more friends. I will grow in You. I will become healthier and have healthier relationships. But first, I must go. I cannot sit and wait for the time to come. The time is now. Here I go, entering a new semester. A new life.