Dear Child of God,

I hope this message finds you in tranquility and peace amidst the start of the new semester. I know this new chapter of your life can be stressful at times. Whether it be the beginning of your time in college, picking between careers, pursuing internships and jobs, or just adjusting to a new chapter of life; don’t forget that He is always beside you. He has come beside you to share in all of your suffering and confusion. He has come to help you in this new beginning; after all, He’s the one who gave it to you.

However I must remind you dear child, that you are a sojourner. You are not of this world. I do not wish that you find comfort in this world. I do not wish that you seek your place in it permanently. Amidst all the troubles that may occur during your new beginning, I wish that you keep your trust in Him through it all. New beginnings are not meant to be easy or comfortable, however they allow for your relationship with Him to be strengthened beyond imagination.

You know that God told Abraham “Go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Abraham needed to leave behind everything to go to this new land. He needed to leave his home, he needed to forsake his friends and family, he needed to abandon his life as he knew it to fulfill God’s will. Abraham did not even know where to start or where to go, but he fully submitted himself to God. He knew not exactly what to do in the moment, but he knew his ultimate goal was to be in complete unity and obedience to God.

You too, my beloved, may not know what to do right now. You may be unsure what to study or which friends to pursue relationships with. You may not have any goals set beyond tomorrow. But surely you know your eternal goal. After all, you have recited every week that He “alone is your goal and joy” (Prayer After Communion). Why then dwell on your worries rather than being joyful in God’s great love for you?

Forgive me if my words are harsh, but you must sacrifice a lot during this stage of your life in order to grow close to Him. You may need to leave behind the bad habits and sins that made your life so comfortable. Had your life been smooth sailing in the past, know my beloved that you have been compromising with the enemy. But know that this new chapter is not meant for comfort, it is for growing closer to Him. When He sought to become close to us, taking our human nature, He did not seek comfort for even a second.

Do not lose hope and do not fear. Do not think that everything you must leave behind during this new beginning is a cost, but rather view it as an investment. Remember that God is the one paying you back on your investment. God does “not intend to let [you] be deprived, but He gives [you] far more than you leave” (Fr Tadros Malaty). Remember that God told Abraham to leave all behind and follow Him. But also remember that to Abraham it was said “count the stars if you are able to number them... so shall your descendants be” (Genesis 15:5).

So know, my beloved, that you will not be deprived but rather you will be filled. God sees every sacrifice that you are coming to offer Him during this new beginning, and He is a generous God who cannot wait to reward you infinitely more.

I wish that you embrace every moment of tribulation during your new beginning, and that you cast all your cares and worries on to Him. Why seek for things to be easier, when the tribulations you go through allow you to come closer to God? Why do you reminisce upon the comfort of your life before, when God has given you this new beginning to grow closer to Him?

It is now that the greatest grace has been bestowed upon you. It is through every difficulty to come that you will know God and He will know you. It is now that you and God will get to experience each other in the same way; through suffering for each other, and with each other in mind as the end goal.

You know that God cares for you. You know that the birds of the air “neither sow nor reap... yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). How then could God possibly neglect His most precious creation? How could He not support and suffer alongside the one whom He died for? Do not view this new beginning as something bad, instead look at it as God giving us all the means to depend on Him!

You may have felt that every year of your life until now has been comfortable, as you have been the one in control. But now you are no longer in control. Now you have lost your sense of independence and have become completely dependent. Know that a child cannot call someone their Father unless he relies on Him for everything!

You are now experiencing the grace of God. You are now finally noticing your smallness and are being forced to depend on God during this new beginning. You are now finally able to say “manage my life as deemed fit,” (St. Basil Liturgy) for I, God, do not know any better than to put all my life into Your hands. With great joy, you are now able to find a spiritual comfort in the words of Christ saying to you: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).