Ouachita Stories

For longer than most of you have been alive, I’ve been watching students begin college. In August they’re always nervous but excited, a bit anxious but ready for “new”—a new place, new friends, new freedoms, new challenges.

Almost every student begins the semester on an emotional high. Then life happens. They have exams and papers and projects. Everything begins to weigh on them. Add in life outside of school and by November the optimism has usually been replaced by the realism of struggle. I can see the questions on their faces: How can I finish all this? Will I make the grades? Am I cut out for college? Psalm 143 might help. David, the writer, is at the end of his semester you might say. He’s exhausted, worn down by his enemies and struggling to survive. But in 143:10 he prays a simple prayer.

 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

Psalm 143:10

 

This prayer speaks two important realities into our lives. First, David asks God to teach him to do his will. That’s a process. It’s like training for a 100-mile bike ride or a marathon. Spiritual growth is a long-haul process. As God leads you through the ups and down of this coming semester, you can pray that he will teach you to obey him. Pray that you won’t have one life at home and another life at school. Pray that you won’t slip into hypocritical or destructive patterns. Pray that God will have your whole heart, a heart that is passionate about pleasing him.

Second, David can pray this because, as he says, “you are my God.” We can trust God. We cry out to the one who loves us and cares about us more than we care about ourselves. We can trust him even when the emotion wears off and we’re left with pure struggle.

By Scott Duvall, Professor of Biblical Studies