"I lift up my eyes to the hills--here does my help come from? My help comes
from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."Psalm 121:1-2 When acrobats are learning their stuff, they practice over a sturdy net,
just in case. When they've got their tricks down cold and really want
to shine, they whisk the net away and show off their fearless perfection. Growing up can feel like that. As long as you live in your parents'
house, you've got a safety net. You know Mom and Dad are right down
the hall if you need anything. But moving out--to college and beyond--is
like leaving that net behind. Sure, you have a Resident Assistant down the
hall and a roommate in the bottom bunk, but it's just not the same. As a Christian, though, you're always working with a net: God's
promise to provide for your needs. And that includes your college
needs--physical, emotional and even financial. God won't necessarily
drop $10,000 in your lap, but he will take care of you and help you. It's
a promise you can count on, because you've tested it before. Over the next few weeks, use these verses and questions to jog your memory
about God's faithful provision throughout your life. This look at the
past is guaranteed to give you confidence for the future. Before You Were Born
You have never been more helpless than you were before birth. But God had
his eye on you even then.See Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:5. Make a list of all the good things God was doing for you before you even
took your very first breath. Were you a healthy baby with 10 fingers and
10 toes? Was good medical care available? Had someone in your family found
faith in Jesus? Before you ever did anything right or wrong, your life was
full of God's gifts. As You Grew Up
Think back to the days before you had your driver's license, before
your part-time job, before you were saving money or doing much of anything
to support yourself. You probably didn't understand exactly where the
food, clothes and fun stuff came from, and you probably didn't care.
You knew you were provided for, and that was enough.See Psalm 103:13 and Luke 12:22-26. Take a mental trip through your childhood, stopping at the times when money
was particularly scarce or surprisingly plentiful. How was God present in
both your fears and your joys? How can you keep him involved in both situations
when they continue to come up as you get older? From Now to Forever
College is a testing time for both you and your parents. You all know in
your minds that God will be there, supplying your needs wherever you go,
but now's the time to trust him completely--without the safety net of
home. And whilu trust is always scary, there's no safer place to put
your trust than in the promises of God.See Isaiah 58:11 and Philippians 4:19. You surely have a list of material worries right now: footing the tuition
bill, keeping the old car running, stretching a small school-supplies budget,
finding a job. Go ahead and list them, then give that list to God. By getting
all those concerns out of your head, you'll make room for the peace
God wants to give you. He's provided before, and he'll do it again. Copyright (c) 1999 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Campus Life magazine. For reprint information on Campus Life, email them at CLMag@campuslife.net. | 
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