Should I Quit College?
Message: I’m a 34 year old married man with two kiddos. I have a good job that pays well, but has zero job security. Last year I started college to better myself and become a teacher. My wife works and has a degree so she has lots of job security, and it’s nice to feel that way. We just started going to church a few months ago and with me working full time and being a dad, time is in short supply. In my down time, I’m usually going school work, and it makes me feel bad that I don’t have lots of time to study the Word or spend quality time with God. Should I drop our of college and focus on that?
Response:Congratulations on making the decision to go back to school and earn a college degree! This is an exciting opportunity in your life and one that will open many doors for you and your family. Choosing to become an educator is such an amazing opportunity and one which I know God will use to richly bless you and your family.
Being in college full time or even part time is a major time commitment and takes plenty of dedication to power through and work on obtaining your degree. Not only is being a student a big commitment, you are the father of two awesome kiddos, you still have a full time job, and you are a loving husband. Being a parent is another big time commitment as well as being a good spouse to your wife. When looking at it with a “wide lens” it may seem like you can juggle it all; school, family, wife, personal obligations, and time with God. Once you start to narrow in on what a typical day or week looks like, it can seem overwhelming! Time management is one thing that is key to have, and will not only help you accomplish your goals for the day, but also keep yourself in check with your mental health and in your relationship with God.
Being a part of God’s family is a wonderful decision and I am glad to hear that you and your family are attending church and growing as a family with Christ in the center. In your own personal life, Christ can be the center too. Time management is key in making sure that you are able to get your time in with God and still do the things that you need to accomplish for the day. Eventually, the time with God will no longer feel like a scheduled appointment but rather, a time that you look forward to each and every day.
Some may say that you need to have either morning or nightly devotionals every single day and they are not necessarily wrong. Spending daily time with God is an amazing part of any day, but the time of day and for how long does depend on you personally. Spending time with God can happen at any moment of any given day, whether it is while you are eating a meal, the first thing you do when you wake up, or what you do when you come home from work and/or school. God is always eager and ready to spend some quality time with you no matter what. This time with him can take a variety of shapes. Singing, reading a Christian book, reading the bible, time spent in prayer etc., are all always that you can spend time with God. Just a few minutes of your time each day can have a lasting impact on your life.
You may be feeling overwhelmed and stressed from the different demands that life has given you. Being able to provide for your family, stay productive at work, be an excellent student in your courses, etc., are all big stressors. Remember that it is important to relax and take some time to also just breathe a little. You can only do so much, so don’t pressure yourself if you can’t complete it all in one day or at one time. God has given us a promise that “a person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps,” basically meaning that we may have what we want to do and accomplish with our lives in mind, but the Lord has the last say and the honestly the best say. He knows where we are going in our lives and we should put our trust in Him. (Verse can be found in Proverbs 4:16).
Lastly I want to leave you with a final promise. The stresses of school and life are hard but Jesus has told us, “Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:6-7). So I would suggest to come to Jesus in prayer and ask Him for continued guidance and strength to manage all that life has given to you. This opportunity to go back to school is a gift from God, your children are beautiful presents from Jesus, and your wife is your partner and help meet. With God’s help, I know you’ll find a balance that works for you. Maybe that looks like taking part-time classes, or maybe it just looks like structuring your day in a way that you can manage to fit it all in.
Time management and breaking down your typical day and week to a realistic hour by hour list will help you figure out what times work best for you to spend that quality time with Jesus, and if something needs to be prioritized or demoted in that list. You can do it! Spending time with Jesus will truly be a blessing to your life and will help you be a great father, husband, student, and employee. Sending all the prayers your way!
