Unanswered prayers? - by 410 alum (and Becca's big sister) Madi Sanders

As juniors in high school the approach of college applications can be very daunting.  Not only do you have to pick where to go, but decide a major that can determine what you do for the rest of your life.  There is so much uncertainty as questions fill your head.  For some these decisions are easier. 

From day one I've been a fightin' Texas Aggie. I knew that's where I wanted to go but yet there was still so much stress.  What do I major in?  What if I don't get in? Time seemed so slow as I went through the application process.  With every step I could feel the stress weighing me down more and more.  This continued until my stress peaked so much that it was all I could think about the first semester of my senior year. 

Fortunately I have strong support from my friends, many of whom are also 410 alum.  They urged me to pray about my struggles and put them in the hands of God.  As I prayed more and more I could feel the weights coming off.  By sharing my struggles with God he was able to help me carry some of those weights.  Now instead of checking my online portal every hour I found myself checking once a day then even once a week. 

Eventually my prayers were answered.  I opened my portal to find a new message.  Congratulations! You have been accepted to Texas A&M Blinn TEAM.  Wait what?  For those of you who don't know Blinn TEAM is a program that allows more students into A&M by allowing them to be full A&M students who have to take many of there classes at Blinn for the first two years of college.  That's not what I wanted at all.  How was I supposed to feel like a part of A&M if I spent most of my days at Blinn? 

For months I was devastated and I can admit a part of me still is.  But I've come to realize something very important.  That day my prayers WERE answered; just not in the way I first thought.  I got into my dream school, a privilege many people don't have, and Blinn TEAM has been a blessing in disguise.  It's allowed me to have a smoother transition into college because instead of having all my classes in 200 people lecture halls I'm able to have the comforts of still being in a classroom like setting. 

My letterman bore the verse Joshua 1:9 all throughout high school but I never paid much attention to it.  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  In the years to come there will be many times you find yourselves with this stress. Rather than bearing the burden alone allow God to help.  Even if you find your prayers going unanswered you may, like me, soon find he answered them in an unexpected way.   Just remember you don't have to bear the stress alone.

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