Going Down to Get Up

I'll be the first to admit, that lately I haven't been as close with God as I have been in the past. I've gotten behind in doing daily devotions...honestly, I don't remember the last time I did them. It's been a couple weeks anyways.

Since I got my new computer I've been able to do a lot more things, but its also been a distraction.
I know in my heart that I want to read the bible and grow closer to God, yet lately I haven't made it a priority, and when that happens its easy for your perception to twist.

I leave for college in one week now. My thoughts about college vary between excitement, fear, anxiety, sadness, and contentment. (A wide range there, I know)... I'm going shopping with my mom tomorrow for the stuff I need, and I've been trying to see my friends as much as possible before I leave, because I'm going to miss them like CRAZY. Last night I had two of my best friends over to spend the night, I "kidnapped" them from their houses, then we all stayed over at my house.

As I was driving home from dropping them off I was channel surfing on the radio because one station had hit commercials. I ended up on 91.1, Northern Christian Radio, a radio station I until semi-recently listened to all the time in the car.

I paused for a minute on the station, then decided to keep it there. On the radio Chuck Swindol in "In the word" (I think it was) was talking about how God uses the hard circumstances in our lives to help us grow in Him. He talked about how, it isn't that God doesn't teach us at other times in our lives, however, in the tough situations and times when we are down, we are more susceptible to Him, and listening to what God is trying to teach us.

I've learned over the past couple years that sometimes you have to go down before God lifts you back up. I'm not sure if this is what college will be like for me. But I know that today, it was just what I needed to hear. I know it has been me that has been far from God lately, but hearing that bit on the radio was kind of a reminder to me... God saying- "Hey, I haven't given up on you; and I'm not going to."

That's all I have for now. If you're going through any hard times, try to lean on God for your strength and learn through your experience, because often, it takes having a hard fall before you realize you need God to give you a hand back up.