Stacks of homework. Stressful job. Ministry commitment. Building new friendships. Maintaining family ties. Many students at Biola are struggling through everyday life, trying to remain focused on God in the midst of all the commotion.
Michael Towson, senior biblical studies major, is dealing with such a conundrum. Towson is taking 18 units, working a part-time job, involved in a church community group and is the student director for California School Project.
Towson’s tasks can get complicated. Recently, California School Project had a retreat at Big Bear to train new ministry leaders. Only a few days before they were to leave, Towson found out he would have to turn in a whole new set of liability papers for each of the retreat attendees — no exceptions. To make matters worse, all of the CSP leaders, including Towson, had almost no time to deal with the matter.
“The only thing I could think to do was just start praying,” Towson said.
CSP was able to process the papers for all 30 members of their team by the end of that night. Towson described it as a powerful testimony of how God comes through even when our lives are swamped.
“I find it helpful to think of God as my King who loves me very much, I’m just His servant, and I work really hard, and He’s the one who ultimately takes care of me,” he said.
Towson isn’t the only student struggling to balance life. Rebecca Wauson, a sophomore communications major, trained this year’s Biola ambassadors. She also attends her floor’s Bible studies, helps to lead a Bible study and is involved with the non-profit organization Invisible Children.
Wauson said she is currently struggling to understand that God longs to meet with her, wherever she is. She said praying at the beginning and end of each day helps her maintain a mindset of surrender.
“I desire for Him to lead me and be in control of every area of my life,” Wauson said.
Jennie Prunson, a sophomore music education major, also has a full plate of commitments. Aside from school, she works at Target, teaches music for the All American Boys Chorus and instructs Sunday school classes at her home church. She, like Wauson, also relies on constant prayer to get her through her busy life.
Feelings of anxiety towards certain commitments are derived from pressure to do well and fear of failure, said Todd Pickett, associate dean of Spiritual Development.
“It’s not just a sheer busyness because life is one thing after another… If it was just that, we’d probably all be okay,” Pickett said.
Old Testament professor Jeffrey Volkmer said people shouldn’t be defined by achievements, friendships or whom they are dating.
“You have to view yourself as who you are in Christ,” Volkmer said. “No matter what happens, [you] can still walk with God.”
