AMY LARSON
Staff Writer
This is my last column in the Graphic. That seems really odd. I was trying to look back at my past four years, trying to think of a really good topic – a sort of summation if you will; something that would represent how much God has taught me in my time here at Pepperdine. A 700-word column could never hold the things God has brought me through and taught me about during these past four years, but it does give me a chance to point out a few specific things that have been repeated over and over in my mind.
I have learned a great deal about God, and one of the most commonly repeated things regards God’s faithfulness. I have been shown over and over again that God is at work even when I am certain nothing is happening. When it doesn’t fit my timing or my ideas or plans, God is still at work. When it doesn’t come out the way I want it to, God is still at work.
I have learned that God sees the big picture, and my present situations are only a fraction in the corner of that big picture. I have been shown that God does work things together for the best, even if I don’t see the results days or even years from now. Though I may never understand the “why” of certain situations, I am foolish if I assume that it couldn’t be a part of the greater picture.
I’ve learned that even in my best efforts, I’m still insufficient. Yet God cares enough to take the messy scribble of a person that I am and turn it into a beautiful artwork of sorts. God is more than able to pick up the slack. God chooses us to be a part of what He is doing in the world. He trusts us enough to give us His love to spread to others.
More than anything, I have learned that whether I believe it or not, God is always with me. God will never leave us alone (Hebrews 13:5). And there’s absolutely nothing that can separate us from his love (Romans 8).
God is present in life’s little wonders. He is revealing himself to us all the time, always trying to show us new things about his love and the life He has to offer us. He reminds us of things that are not only practical, but also vital. I am learning to see God’s presence all the time – not only in the wind and waves, but also in others. In the way I’ve seen people give of themselves without hesitation, I see a part of God’s character.
When I see people in love, so much so that their own needs become secondary to those of the other, I see another aspect of God. I have learned that in all the ups and downs of college, God’s been there. Sometimes I saw him, but often I shut my eyes, blinding myself to the beauty, power and glory of the God of the universe. Even now, I only see a glimpse of the awe-inspiring being that is God (1 Corinthians 13:12), but I am recognizing that my turning a blind eye to His presence does not make it any less real.
Each person’s life is a specific case study about God. I’ve studied for four years to earn the diploma I’ll receive in a couple weeks, but learning from God occurs for more than just a few short years – it happens over a lifetime. The more I learn about God, the more I want to learn from Him for the rest of my life.
04-10-2008