"Help me to navigate September's stormy sea with grace and resilience, resting on my divine captain, Jesus Christ."
–an evening prayer, 9/6/17
I have the September blues.
It's a strange feeling. There's something about the euphoria and adrenaline of a new semester plummeting to the dread of impending reality. Even summer crashes hard on the rocks of academic responsibility.
Septembers are odd. Unlike the delight of crisp October, September finds itself in that underwhelming portion of the year between rising action and final denouement. No more are jubilant beach days glittering and glorious, with life seeming like a constant adventure. Instead, now I find myself stuck in the hamster wheel of senioritis.
The drowsy blend of heat and syllabus shock.
The discomfort of settling into a new social rhythm.
A strange, September-bred existential dread.
When I often don't know why I'm upset but still I sink under the weight of a mind fraught with care.
Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Brokenness all around.
Even in my most cynical moments, I know this too shall pass. The September will conclude, the metaphorical sun rises, and I journey on, aided by a steady, supernatural hand. Even my own frailty doesn't prevent the God of time from having His way with my life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
–Isaiah 41:10
Everything God has given me is lightyears beyond what I deserve. His mercies are new, September will end, and His grace prevails.
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."
–Psalm 34:8
His grace is daily flowing for me, because of Christ's atonement. Sufficiency and efficacy are twin facets in grace's multidimensional beauty.
September has been rough. Crying out for help, resisting it, fleeing and fearing, praying and persisting. Where is it at? Elusive contentment, heart-rest, abundance of life?
Christ is the one who sustains––ad infinitum. He is all in all. Salvation, peace, and bravery are all found in Him alone––now, and every September until we reach that golden shore.
"Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
His going out is sure as the dawn;
He will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth."
–Hosea 6:3