College

[Haltoruasil]

I would like some wise counsel about whether I should return to college or not. My stomach stops going tight when I say to myself that I'm not going to return. I was also finding the work really difficult. It was stressing me out.

 

[Articles]

We hear your struggle and the weight of this decision pressing on your heart. The tightness in your stomach and the stress you’ve felt are not things to ignore, they are signals that this path may not be the one God has for you right now. The Lord does not call us to walk in constant anxiety or overwhelm, but in peace and purpose. As it says in Philippians 4:6-7, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."

First, we must ask: Have you sought the Lord in prayer about this decision? Have you laid this burden before Him, asking for His wisdom and clarity? James 1:5 assures us, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." The peace you feel when considering not returning may very well be the Holy Spirit guiding you away from a path that is not aligned with His will for your life.

College is often presented as the only path to success, but Scripture does not elevate formal education above obedience to God’s calling. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, "Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Perhaps the Lord is leading you toward a different season of learning, one that may involve trade skills, ministry, entrepreneurship, or even a gap year to seek Him more deeply. There is no shame in stepping away if it is not the right fit for you.

We also want to gently challenge the idea that difficulty or stress automatically mean something is wrong. The Christian life is not without trials, and even in our callings, we may face resistance. However, if the stress is leading to despair, fear, or a sense of being crushed, that is not the abundant life Christ promises (John 10:10). Consider whether this is a matter of perseverance through hardship or a misalignment with God’s design for you.

If you do choose not to return, we encourage you to replace the lie that you are "giving up" with the truth that you are stepping into God’s better plan. Jeremiah 29:11 declares, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future." That future may not look like what the world expects, but it will be one of fulfillment in Christ.

Let us pray for you now:

Heavenly Father, we come before You on behalf of our brother/sister, lifting up this decision about college. Lord, You know the depths of their heart, the fears they carry, and the dreams You’ve placed within them. We ask for Your wisdom to flood their mind and Your peace to guard their heart. If college is not Your will for them right now, make that clear, and replace any fear of the unknown with trust in Your provision. If this is a season of redirection, open doors that no man can shut, and lead them into the path You’ve prepared. Help them to rest in the truth that their worth is not found in degrees or worldly success, but in being Your beloved child. Give them courage to walk in obedience, even if it means stepping away from what others expect. We trust You to complete the good work You’ve begun in them, and we ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

We encourage you to spend time in prayer and fasting, seeking confirmation from the Lord. Write down the pros and cons, but more importantly, write down the ways you sense God speaking to you, through Scripture, godly counsel, or that still, small voice. Surround yourself with believers who can pray with you and offer biblical wisdom. And remember, whether you return to college or not, your identity is secure in Christ. You are not defined by this decision, but by His love for you.

 

[Eroeroertown]

Praying for this in Jesus Name.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear you, and we are glad you brought this here. That settling in your stomach when you consider not returning is worth noticing. It may not be telling you that college is wrong forever, but it is telling you the load you were carrying was heavier than you could keep bearing the way things were. That is not weakness; it is an honest signal from your body.

A helpful next step is to put both paths on paper. Ask what specifically made the work so difficult. Was it the pace, the subject matter, the cost, the isolation, or something else? If you were to return, what would need to change for it to be sustainable? A reduced course load, a different major, tutoring, or a semester of work first could all be part of the picture. If you did not return, what would you do instead? Seeing the possibilities side by side often removes the fear and helps you choose freely rather than just escaping pressure.

If the tightness lingers or starts showing up in other ways, please mention it to a doctor or a campus counselor. Caring for your body is part of seeking wisdom, not a lack of faith.

Father, thank You for this person and for the way You made their body to signal when something is too heavy. Give them clarity and steady peace. Help them sort through the real obstacles and see a wise path forward, whether that means rest, returning with changes, or a different direction entirely. Guard them from shame and from haste. In Jesus name, amen.

 

[Eriydell]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[EnricoLange]

Lord Jesus please richly bless, protect and guide them. Please help them in accordance with your perfect will Father. Thank you and praise you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

You have already discovered that anxiety pays no wages. It never comforted anyone, it never carried a burden, and it unfits a man for the very work he dreads. So the relief you feel when you say you will not return is not a small thing; it tells you plainly that the present strain has become too heavy for you. But do not let a loosened stomach make a decision that belongs to God. The flesh shrinks from a cross, and the flesh also shrinks from a true calling. You must test the matter by prayer, by the Word, and by godly counsel.

Ask yourself honestly before the Lord: Did you enter college with a clear purpose and a sense of His direction, or did you drift in because the current was going that way? Is the course of study necessary for the work God has set before you, or is it only the ambition of the age? There is no virtue in earning a degree merely because others do so. The wisdom of the Egyptians, which once seemed so great, is no longer worshipped; the wisdom of one age becomes the folly of the next. But if the path is one the Lord has marked out for you, then difficulty alone is no reason to flee. Many a calling is hard at the first, and the hand of God strengthens those who wait on Him.

At the same time, do not despise the warning your body is giving you. If the work is breaking you down, if your soul has no peace in it, and if no clear, God-given end stands before you, then it may be that the Lord is hedging up your way. That is not a matter for mere feeling; it is a matter for deliberate searching before Him. Bring the whole question out of the fog of your fears into the light of His presence. Say, Lord, I am Thine; show me the way wherein I should walk. Be not of an irresolute mind. Either go forward with all your heart, trusting God for the strength you lack, or withdraw with a clear conscience and give yourself without wavering to whatever He appoints. But do not remain on the fence, for hesitation and wavering can answer no purpose.

Let the peace of God rule in your heart after prayer, not merely the absence of a tight stomach. If He bids you stay, He will supply the grace for the work. If He releases you from it, then go in peace. But let the decision be made before the Lord, not before your fears.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[usha rani]

Praying in Jesus Name. Amen.