A saying my mother instilled in me ever since I was a little girl is, "Let go and let God". My response being "That makes no sense. You don't even understand" when I was stressed about whether or not I would be able to watch my favorite TV show or hang out with my friends. Not until now, as a freshmen in college, does what she was saying for all of those years make sense to me, she was right, just as she was about most things that I would never agree with her on.

Starting a new chapter of your life whether it be having children, getting married, starting a new job, or as it was for me: College you are going to face new challenges that you have never faced before. It was these times that made me realize how right my mother was all of those years when I didn't listen. I came to this realization when for some reason everything I had been stressed about in the past always seemed to end up being okay.

I questioned why I ever stressed about a test or assignment and thought to myself, "Every time you have stressed about this in the past, everything has been OK, always." I started questioning, why? Why does everything always work out for me? Then, one day it hit me. Being at The Catholic University of America there signs of encouragement and God all over campus, one day I read one saying, "Let go and let God." There it was, the words I have been ignoring for years, right in front of my face answering why everything always worked out.

We all have our own struggles that we go through throughout our lives. Though, the single most important thing to keep in mind is that God has a plan for us, and in the end everything is going to work out perfectly. It may be difficult to die to certain situations in your life that may make you feel uncomfortable even when you think that your life is over. Sometimes you need to “let go, and let god."

As the Philippians said 4:13 “ I can do anything through him who gives me strength.” You must let go of your worries of the past and focus on today and the strength God gives you to get through it. Let God be the light at the end of the tunnel that gets you through your darkest times and brings you to your brightest.

“If your heart feels overwhelmed Just know you're never by yourself Put your hand in mine, hold your head up high And together we'll rise,” ("Rise," The McClain Sisters). When facing a challenge that may be difficult in your life you must die to it allowing yourself to rise to bigger and better things. When you feel you can’t do this alone, remember you are never alone because god is always by your side, and he will help you rise. He is the light in your darkest times and brings you to your brightest.