First off, I want to talk about our timing.  The view most of us have of time is that is is fleeting and that there is never enough of it.  You know what I'm talking about especially if you're a college student right now.  I'm sure it's even worse if you're a parent watching time fly by, but I'm not a parent yet, so I can't claim authority on that viewpoint.  For me right now though, I feel like no matter how well I have planned out my homework or events or studying or reading, I NEVER get it all done.  That kind of thing drives me crazy.  Absolutely crazy.  There are 24 hours in the day.  Shouldn't I be able to get all of my homework done?  Apparently not.  Not if I want to sleep at all.  And I like sleep.  A lot.  Even as I sat in my 8 AM class this morning, I went back and forth between filling out an application, taking notes, and spark-noting Uncle Tom's Cabin because I didn't have time to read 100 pages yesterday.  In hectic times like these, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.  For me, having 3 projects, 2 papers, and 2 novels to read in one week is enough to make me scream, and finals aren't even here yet!  But just when I'm about to lose it, I see something like this:

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."John 16:33

I am so grateful to attend a Christian university where I can see that posted in a sorority Facebook page.  I've even seen verses and encouragement written on the sidewalks, on posters, banners, you name it.  I know that I'm blessed to attend a school like this, but for those whose university or college or job or whatever it is, is not such an encouraging environment, just remember to be still.  God has overcome the world, you guys!  I know it's hard to keep yourself from worrying, especially in a world as crazy and as evil as this one, but if He has won, what do we have to fear?

Secondly, I want to talk about God's timing.   This is one of the things that has continued to frustrate me as a believer.  You may be thinking, "It's easy for you to say to be still and relax and not worry.  Your life is pretty simple right now."  Okay, so what?  I may not be out in the real world, and I may not be working full time or trying to raise a family or pay bills by myself yet, but I worry nonetheless.  Believers all over the world still worry.  We're still human, and painfully so, even after we accept Christ into our lives.  That's why we need Him!  Without Him, I would have no one to give my troubles over to.  No one to cry out to when things get especially hard or hurtful or confusing.

One of the things that makes me most angry and frustrated is seeing one of my friends in pain.  It is incredibly hard for us as earthly, flawed creatures to understand acts of God and His divine plan.  It's hard enough to see the bigger picture in everyday defeats, much less in decisions and events that we don't understand.  One of my friends had something happen to her recently that no one saw coming, and it's just beyond frustrating to see another believer in so much pain and for a reason neither she nor I understand.

As I write this, I learned of another painfully horrible event in our tragic and heartbreaking world.  As many of you probably know by now, someone planted two bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing 2 innocent people just doing what they loved and injuring dozens more.  I cannot imagine the pain, the disbelief, and the utter horror that occurred there today.  Innocent people and families affected for no reason whatsoever.  One of my friends said that, as a runner, there is nothing more gratifying that crossing that finish line.  The months, the years, the countless hours put into the training for such a prestigious marathon, and two of those hard workers never got to cross that line and will never get that chance again.

In a world so cruel, full of college stabbings, elementary school shootings, and terroristic threats to our country, we have to believe there is a purpose in this.  Although there may not have been a reason those people decided to kill, there has got to be some divine purpose, some reason unknown to us, that we can't possibly understand right now.  In the darkest times, we must learn to cling to Him, to turn to Him, and not to blame Him.

"God is sovereign over evil and in His sovereignty will not allow evil to have the last word." —RC Sproul

In this, we can have hope.  Because God will NOT let this end here.  I truly believe that.  Evil things happen, but He will always triumph.  After all, He has overcome the world and will continue to do so until we are all united with Him again.  And what a beautiful day that will be.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes & death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, crying, nor pain anymore." Rev 21:4 

~T