Summer LINK Clemson: Even in the Midst of the Craziness, God Provides

Only seven more weeks of the program that acts as a relief from my hectic schedule. I can’t believe how much I have learned, just in these few short weeks with summer LINK Clemson. One of these things includes how God is in control and finds ways to reassure us that his direction is sovereign. When signing on with Clemson SummerLINK, I was a tad hesitant that it would conflict with my strenuous class schedule. Not being the only one taking classes, there was a bit of relief, but for some reason I felt that because I was taking the dreaded ORGANIC CHEMISTRY that my schedule was going to busier than others, and oh how I was wrong. It turns out, everybody doing summer LINK is extremely busy taking classes, working, and trying to manage their time just as I am. And still, after spending time with this awesome group of people being on mission for the Lord, there is always that little assurance from God telling me that this is exactly what I should be doing with my summer. Participating in Summer LINK activities during the week is sometimes stressful, but it isn’t the activities that stress me out. I look forward to every single one of them, whether it is being trained in discipleship, or fellowshipping with families in the church. Yes, my classes are crazy hard, but I always find such a relief when I get to go do “Summer LINK” things. Sometimes, I find myself driving to the church just to hang out and help out with some of the other generation LINK staff. I just love the people that I am privileged to interact with this summer and cherish the time that I get to spend with them. That being said, this summer has still had it’s hardships. There have been multiple instances when school has kept me from doing the thing that my heart desires, even the things that I feel that God has called me to pursue. These situations especially have been difficult because I feel like it is what God wants me to do, but also know how strong my fleshly desire is. It is sometimes tough to distinguish which one is real. And always, after much prayer and petition, God leads me to the wisest, most rational decision. Part of Summer LINK involves scripture memory and the first week me and my discipleship leader, the amazing Sammi Fife, agreed to memorize and abide on Galations 2:20, which states that we have been crucified in Christ so that he lives through us and we should live therefore live our lives by faith in him. What a verse to start off with! It was key in showing me that no matter what I am doing, I am doing it for the glory of God who sent his only Son to die on the cross for our wretched sins so that we could live. So as miserable as organic chemistry is some days, it is nice to have to perspective to know that this is what I had committed to this summer, and therefore, I need to do it in a way that pleases the Lord. The same goes for hectic busy schedules. As hard as it seems to make them all fit together, God has a way of working things out so that we can further bring him glory through being on mission with SummerLINK Clemson. Therefore, if I commit to things that I clearly do not have time for, I would not be able to do the other things well, and that would not bring honor and glory to my Savior. So when times seem bleak, and schedules don’t fit together, I just have to remember this verse and know that this summer was a summer for the Lord to strengthen me spiritually and physically. Yes, school is hard…but YES, God has given me supernatural focus and concentration to do well in my class. Yes, there are constant schedule conflicts… but YES, God has a way of working things out in the favor of those who seek after Him. God does have overarching plan for our lives and He is sovereign in everything he does. And with these things, he constantly provides for us.

By: Katy Weaver