Sunlight

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.

-Philippians 4:7

When God knocks, you're going to want to run to answer.

Tonight from 6 pm-7 pm was Chemistry test #2. A stressful event for most to say the least.

Science majors may be known for their intellect, composure, and competitive GPAs, but what were more known for is our anxiety. Coming from outside and walking into the science lounge was a frightful event. It was as if a maddening wind blew straight through our science facilities, and the most intense amount of panic consumed those who got in its way. Girls were shaking, knees buckling, and nervous chatter flowed from their mouths. Men with their notebooks sprawled across their bodies, asking everyone about equations that will most definitely not be on the test. Everyone was in disarray.

Despite the chaos abroad, I was at peace. This was not because I am some chemistry genius (for I am not), it is not because I studied for two weeks straight without eating or sleeping (for I did not), nor is it because of any kind of distorted confidence that I have with the subject matter (I ask for help with chem multiple times a day). Christ has truly saved me from all of this misery.

This year, I finally allowed Christ to come in. Previously, most of the time when I heard Him knock on any door referring to my stress levels, I would respond to Him with bolting on an extra lock. Before I nailed "academic stress" onto His cross, that door must have had millions of fixtures.

He brings a continuous peace that you cannot find without Him. A peace that causes you to change in your entirety. You become like Him.

Think this is too big of a task? Then who do you say He is?

And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."

-Mark 8:29

Our Savior calls us to follow after Him in all ways. That includes giving Him all of your burdens.

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the earth.

-Luke 21:34, 35

For the Good

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,

-Colossians 1:9-11

Good evening and God Bless,

Christ truly worked through chem lab tonight. It has become tradition for the wonderful young ladies that I sit at a lab table with to complain about lab, through casual joking, and the occasional tears. I most definitely join in, in both activities. Often. However, it's been on my heart recently to change the way that I respond towards the dreaded subject (Do everything without complaining or arguing. Phil 2:14).

While doing Experiment #8, our lab on titration, Christ made Himself known to me. After a "chem bash" of ours I started to wonder why I was taking chemistry in the first place. Sure, I may be an environmental major at Siena, but Christ has called me to transfer, and to get more involved with my Biblical studies major (currently referred to as my Religious Studies major at Siena) while at another school. Christ then started speaking to my heart. He would teach me through chemistry, not necessarily chemistry itself.

Titration takes a long time. A very long time. If you are a science major, I cringe with you at the word. However, if you sit and be still, wait for the presence of blue (when using a thymol blue indicator) or pink (phenolphthalein), you won't have to do the whole lab over again. So I waited. For every drop (or "half drop") I watched, swirled, and was still in His presence. My partner, however, grew impatient, and would completely open the buret and dispense several mL of solution at a time. Her results in the end were incomplete.

My partner quickly learned patience in lab after three unsuccessful titration trials; the only way she will get the correct answers is if she waited. How many trials will we rush before we go to Him who has all the answers?

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him,

-Psalm 37:7a