“But the Lord stood with me & strengthened me.”-2 Timothy 4:17

While taking one of my Pinterest study breaks after staring at Chinese characters for far too long, I came across this bible verse. Since I came across this verse on Pinterest, it was written uniquely and elegantly, probably by someone who does bible lettering for a living, so it caught my attention. Maybe it was because of the perfect spirals in the calligraphy or maybe it was because of the meaning attached to these words, but I’m glad this was what Pinterest led me to in that moment.

With the intensity of school picking back up, there are many times that we will be knocked down, and possibly even kicked while we're down. Personally, I’ve decided to take on a lot this semester. Between taking an intense course load, fulfilling sorority duties, working part time, trying to socialize, and getting involved on campus, I’ve got a lot on my plate as I’m sure most of my peers do. As we continue to get further on into the semester, there will inevitably be times where we feel weak and alone; however, I know that I find so much joy in the fact that we are never alone, no matter how certain circumstances lead us to feel.

No matter what you’ve done or how distant you feel from Him, we are blessed with a God who is greater than our circumstances. He has conquered death in order to pursue an intimate relationship with you, and that beats just about any trial you’ll be faced with on this earth. He wants to be your father, friend, and redeemer. He is so much greater than an F on your first test or sleeping through a class you need perfect attendance in. Regardless of the effort you are putting in towards a relationship with Him, He is always right by your side rooting for you and bringing you strength.

So, the next time you find yourself beaten down, just know that there is someone who has never left your side and who will turn this negative experience into something beautiful in His perfect timing. He is constantly providing you with what you need in order to live the life He has intended for you. Bow your head and lift your eyes to things above because you’ve got a God who cares so deeply about you that His love is incomprehensible. And just remember that you are never, ever alone. God’s got your back and is making you stronger every day.