Graduation, THE BAR, job hunting, student loans, $300 textbooks, my biological clock yearning for children, and COVID-19—adulting is a rough ride; thank God for, well, Him. When I find myself allowing anxiety to creep into my thoughts, I look to the Lord and His Word. Like many Christians before me, I have had seasons of passivity in my faith, seasons of zeal, and seasons of struggle. Being in law school can take you through a rollercoaster of all of the above in a matter of weeks. Though the ride has been tumultuous, it has caused my roots to go deeper. My husband and I made a conscious decision to put God before school, and I am so glad we did.
Making a choice
Sinking in a sea of stress, my first year, I wasn’t sure I could put God before school. The thought of spending 2-3 hours at church every week when I could be doing homework was petrifying. I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough time to complete all the tasks I needed to get done, but God always made a way for me. I made the commitment to tithe my time to the Lord at least once a week, and now look how far I’ve come. By his grace, I am one semester away from graduation. This is not to say that everything became sunshine and rainbows for me at school. I didn’t mysteriously poof to the top of my class, and my appellate briefs didn’t just magically write themselves. What did happen was that in moments of waterboarding-like anxiety, the Sunday school scriptures from my childhood began to pop back into memory with the comfort to calm the storms of stress within.
The reality of God’s faithfulness and love for me became tangible as the obstacles of adulthood presented themselves. I had peace regardless of my circumstances. I realized then that being a Christian didn’t mean that all your problems go away and suddenly you’re Cinderella, going from a crummy life to a castle. It means that with Christ, your crummy life can be a castle. The peace and inexplicable joy that fills you is powerful and is strong enough to shine even in the darkest of hours.
Law school is, by far, the most rigorous and rewarding challenge I have encountered academically. The lack of hours in a day to complete all your tasks can be overwhelming, along with the exhaustion that ensues. However, knowing that I can turn to the Word when I am feeling stressed helps me keep it together even when I feel like I am falling apart.
Bible verses to fight anxiety
I made the conscious choice to put God first. I didn’t always do it perfectly, but then again, who has? In Matthew 6:33, the Word says, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” During my time as a law student, that has been the goal to remember that I have only come this far by His grace and to put Him first as best I can. Whether you’re in law school, grad school, or just plain, crazy adulthood, I hope this post helps you realize you are not alone in your struggle. Below I have a list of my go-to verses. I hope they bring you comfort with whatever it is you’re going through. Feel free to comment with your favorite verse!
1. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13
2. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
3. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Philippians 4:6
4. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding Proverbs 3:5
5. Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-30
6. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
7. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8: 28
With love from the Lonestar,
Isabella
