It’s Wednesday. In the past week and a half I have not gone to bed before 11 pm every night, and normally the clock is ticking closer to 1 am. I have spent more hours studying this week alone than I have possibly in my entire life. I have somewhere to be at 8am, 9am, 11 am, 2pm, 3pm, 6pm, and 8pm today. I haven’t been home for longer than one night since labor day. I just got my grade back from a test and did not do so good. My room is a mess, and I’m not quite sure the socks I have on are clean.
My answer to “how are you?” has become a routine “tired.” College creates a perfect setting for stress, worry, and tears. It is easy to become caught up in classes, majors, tests, jobs, and trying to have a social life somewhere in there. Today I got in my dorm and sat down in my chair and checked the clock to see how many minutes I had to breathe before getting started on whatever was next. I went through the routine of pulling pandora up as soon as I shut the door behind me. What should have come next is maybe a sigh, a couple tears, or yanking my planner out of my book-bag to make sure I had not missed something. However, from something other than myself, a smile flooded my soul and I had a dance party. In my dorm room, all alone, laughing, smiling, and dancing all around just because. Jesus flooded me with the joy of His presence. I paused for a second to consider what was happening, and whispered to my soul was “look around.”
Look around.
Look around at the opportunity that I have to be at a university.
Look around at the school work I have that is teaching me more and more about all that the Lord has revealed to us in knowledge.
Look around at the friends that I have to hangout with and make memories with.
Look around at the family I have back home that cares enough to check in on me, even when they know I am too busy to call.
Look around at the positions the Lord has placed me in where I get to build relationships, pour into people, and grow myself.
Look around at the blessings that are overflowing in my life.
Yes, I have homework. Yes, I was supposed to be somewhere ten minutes ago. And Yes, a pb and j might be all that I have for supper again tonight.
But God is so good to me and I have every reason to be dancing in Him.
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is GOOD;
and His steadfast love endures forever.
All of these temporary things crowd our view of our God. His goodness outweighs business. His love overpowers stress. His faithfulness speaks peace to the most anxious places. We all have so much going on and are worn down, so take a break and remind yourself of how generous He is to bless us with so much to be busy with.
Take a dance break. Let God fill your soul with His spirit. Kick off your shoes, close the planner, and if even for only two minutes experience all that comes with knowing Jesus and THANK HIM. Dance it out, get a renewed mind, and tackle whatever is next. Not because you can, but because the one that is in you is greater.
Dance it out, friends. Dance in Him.
Remember + Rejoice 