By your side

Change can be really tough. New situations can make me nervous and sometimes even make me feel pretty lonely. I stared college about two weeks ago and it’s already been an adventure. I was only in my dorm about  a week when we all had to evacuate for Hurricane Dorian. Feeling so thankful that it didn’t end up coming here and praying big for the Bahamas! If you know of any ways to support them let me know and I’d love to get involved!! Anyway all of that led to me being home for a week which was so great but also kind of hard. Adjusting to a life where I don’t see my family everyday is tough. While this new change is great in so many ways it doesn’t mean there aren’t times of struggle. I struggle in wondering if  I won’t “thrive” as much as others because my college is close to home. That seems kind of silly but it’s a thing I think about even though I know it’s not true. I struggle with not seeing my family and friends from high school everyday. Classes can be hard and sometimes I get lost on campus. So being home and back in my most comfortable environment with my favorite people was so nice but made it hard to go back into this big change again. And for a second I felt a little alone in my feelings. But honestly lots of people struggle with leaving home for the first time. So there’s that fact that thousands of other people are feeling the same way and then the other pretty important one that Jesus never leaves your side. 

 

It’s kind of an overwhelming feeling when you stop and think about it. Because no matter how alone you may feel, you truly never are. Jesus never leaves your side, not even once. And when you truly let that sink in, to me it feels like a big deep breath. Like hey it’s ok, I’ve got this because my Savior walks next to me. Through every mess up and hard moment he never leaves. 

 

Big changes are kind of strange honestly because while they come with their fair share of struggle and hard times, there’s a lot of happiness and growth that also comes. I already feel myself becoming more secure. It’s refreshing and scary but I’m letting myself be really honest right now. To just feel all the emotions and grow from all of them. And it’s led me to finding so much strength in that. I’ve made a couple of really great friends and tried things I wouldn’t have thought to before. And through all of this struggle and happiness and just simple change in general,  I’m resting in the fact that I’m never alone and it’s the most comforting feeling in the world.

 

Life is forever a roller coaster of ups and downs. It’s twists and turns we didn’t see coming and exciting moments we feel like we’ve waited our whole lives for. It’s exhilarating and terrifying all in one ride. But even when it gets hard, you’re never alone in it. Even when it feels like you really are. You’ve got the Savior of the world at your side. He wants all your struggle and joy. He wants you to grow and learn and lead the world closer to him. Change can be hard, but being honest and remembering who walks next to you are game changers. There is so much to be discovered and so many ways to grow. So here’s to next steps and walking side by side with the one who never leaves you. What a joy it truly is to walk with Him.

 

All the love, Annie