Many Christian young adults who attend college after graduating from high school find themselves torn between the ways of the world and the ways of the Word. Questions flood their minds. “How can I keep my faith when the influence of wrongdoing surrounds me everyday?” “Who can I turn to for prayer if my college is modernized, socially acceptable, and disregards religion?” “Where can I practice my faith while being away from home and with the susceptibility to the typical ‘college lifestyle’?” Sometimes the darkness consumes even the brightest of lights due to the lack of faith and assurance that God can be found in the void. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) says, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” 

The life of a college student consists of unique experiences, new exposures and the growth of interpersonal knowledge. As a student of faith, it’s important to guard your heart and flee from temptation, which the Bible so vividly commands (Proverbs 4:23, 2 Timothy 2:22). The “college lifestyle” seems normal in culture but goes against the Christian way. Being surrounded by temptations on an everyday basis can persuade the fleshly cravings to overcome spiritual desires. When the flesh is uncontrollable, the inclination to live a life for Christ becomes more difficult. 

To avoid this, it’s important to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are unafraid to voice accountability. Two are better than one, and a group of three is even more efficient. Falling short or sinning may seem inevitable. God sent Jesus and Jesus sends His people in moments like these. 

Imagine a dark room with no lights on. There are no windows or sources that will allow light to shine through. Now, place yourself in the room. Did it become brighter or remain the same? With Christ in the central part of your heart, there is an automatic radiance that lights up any dull, gloomy or dark room. Campus can sometimes look like a dark room but the light of Christ within you pierces the darkness. There is a level of fearlessness that is required when stepping out on faith to be a light and share the gospel. David defeated Goliath, Samson fought thousands, Abraham almost sacrificed his son. Be BOLD for Him. The amount of college degrees or zeros in the bank account does not devalue God’s divine encounters or the relationships He has with His people. We ought to go against the current and rise above the tide.

When attending college, it’s important to seek student clubs or maybe establish a group with other believers that will allow your faith to grow. God has given each of us creative abilities to add to or begin something with that will greatly impact others. Discover a local church near your university that pours into you and makes room for community building. The significance of obtaining close relationships with other believers makes the enemy think twice about interfering. Indulge in the volunteer opportunities offered and use those moments to share a piece of your testimony with someone else. Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. 

God opens doors of opportunity to positively affect another. In every classroom that you enter, administer and exercise the fruits of the Spirit—joy, love, peace, kindness, gratitude, self-control, gentleness, patience— with your fellow classmates and professors. There won’t always be an inclination to do so, but once you push against your flesh and allow your spirit to lead, others will see your light. 

Following the ways of the Word and not the ways of the world can sometimes be easier said than done—especially in a place where God seems to be absent. It’s important to remind yourself that God is Jehovah-Jireh, our provider, and that He will give you the desires of your heart as long as they align with His will for your life. Your faithfulness may go unnoticed by man, but God sees everything. 

“How can I keep my faith when the influence of wrongdoing surrounds me every day?” “Who can I turn to for prayer if my college disregards religion?” “Where can I practice my faith while being away from home?” These questions can be answered by fleeing from temptation, seeking a righteous friend or trustworthy local pastor and finding a Spirit-led church or safe place of worship. Remember that you are the light in the darkness. The “college lifestyle” is what you create it to be. Be BOLD, remain faithful and shine brightly in the darkness.