You are priceless. You are the daughter of the one true King. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. Don't let anyone make you believe anything less than that.

It is hard to be a Christian young woman in college. College is a time when you are trying to find your place, make new friends, and discover who you want to be in the world. At this time in your life, it's so easy to do whatever you can and act how everyone wants you to so that you will fit in. I promise you that your faith is more important than your popularity. Your relationship with your heavenly Father is worth much more than a few earthly friendships or party invites.

There will be times in college that it feels like your popularity is your entire world. It will feel like there are pressures from every direction to have casual hookups, get drunk, or do other things to fit in. It is so crucial to remember that don't belong to this world. God has chosen you out of this world. God tells us directly in the Bible that because we are His children, we will be persecuted and receive hate from the world. That is for our whole lives, not just during college! In fact, He says that we will be blessed for receiving this persecution because of Him. Your heavenly Father is so proud of you for sticking to the morals He gave you.

It is really hard during college to not feel like you are part of a big friend group or a popular group but remember that you are really living for eternal life, not anything this world can give you. Matthew 16:26 says "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" You have a heavenly Father that is so madly in love with you, and nothing this world gives you can compare to your eternal life with Him. It is so hard to think about that right now when you may not feel like you fit in, but I promise you that it's worth it.

I dare you to get out there and find your identity in Christ. Just like everyone else you will make mistakes and sometimes you will fail, but you will be the one to look to God to pick you up and remind you who you are. Your testimony during those times may give you the opportunity to influence your friends and peers in their walks with Christ. I pray you have the courage to take every single one of those opportunities. You will have a total blast making memories with some great friends. Your time in college will be full of fun and growth, and it will be worth it to hold onto God even when the world tempts you in the opposite direction.