For Time to Stand Still

“I’ve got this! Is Cornell really that hard? I’m actually not as stressed out as I thought I would be!” Those were my thoughts during the first two weeks of college. The following weeks humbled me real quick as I struggled to keep up with biology problem sets and realized that my studying techniques wouldn’t only have to encompass memorization, but practical application too.

The following weeks humbled me real quick…

I have always juggled different tasks, and I have good time management skills, so I assumed the transition to college wouldn’t be hard. I thought I could manage a job, my social life, school work, sleep, and a relationship with Christ, but I didn’t consider that things won’t always go my way. I had a mindset of self-dependency going into Cornell, and it’s really easy to have that mindset when everything is going fine. Viewing life through this lens was easier because I had never been to college or experienced the Cornell culture. I am a planner and often forget about my need to rely on God and His timing. The Old Testament book of Joshua analyzes this mindset and shows God’s power to interrupt our plans with mysteries and miracles.

Joshua chapter 10 starts with the inhabitants of Gibeon, an ancient Canaanite city about five miles north of Jerusalem. [1] The Gibeonites had become allies with powerful Israel and established themselves as a great city. But suddenly, they found themselves in an unfavorable situation with AdoniZedek, the king of Jerusalem, who had gathered together the five kings of the Amorites and their troops to wage war against Gibeon because they saw Gibeon’s growth as a threat. Gibeon’s fortunes changed with little warning.

Similarly, once I got to Cornell, I also found my life suddenly becoming hectic, confusing, and stressful. Things weren’t going the way I had planned them.

I realized I needed help, but I didn’t first turn to God. I tried to figure things out on my own by seeking social validation, but I was constantly placing myself in situations and relationships that I didn’t feel comfortable in. I thought I would be able to control my narrative and eventually make things right—but all of my efforts were driven by fear. The men of Gibeon also felt fear when they rushed to Joshua to plead for help against the Amorites.

I tried to figure things out on my own by seeking social validation, but I was constantly placing myself in situations and relationships that I didn’t feel comfortable in.

I finally got to a point where I accepted that I wasn’t making progress in my effort to thrive in college. That’s when I realized that when my way doesn’t work, God’s way will. When the men of Gibeon went to Joshua for answers, Joshua sought the Lord’s advice, and the Lord most definitely came through! The Lord reassured Joshua that his army would be victorious over the Amorites.

Then the Lord allowed Joshua and his army to be victorious by putting the Amorite army in a great panic. This was a way of the Lord showing the importance of letting Him work instead of pursuing our own means. Wait, there’s more! The Lord caused a hailstorm that killed a majority of the Amorites. God then ends it all by doing the impossible. As the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to Him in front of all the Israelites to have the sun stand still. The sun and moon then stood still until all the Amorites had been defeated.

Don’t confine yourself to your own limited timeline.

Don’t confine yourself to your own limited timeline. Understand that God is timeless and that what He has planned for us is beyond our limitations. Throughout my college journey, I’ve allowed God to steer me in a completely different direction than I thought to the point where I am even changing my major. I’ve allowed God to help me be patient in meeting people and developing friendships, so I feel as though I’m developing a strong support system. So, the moral of the story— trust God!

Eliana Amoh is a freshman in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences from Maryland. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, watching social documentaries, singing, watching basketball, or casually repping the DMV—and no she is not referring to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

[1] Joshua 10

[2] “Moon Jar,” Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), Korea, Art Institute of Chicago.

[3] “The Moon,” 2017, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

[4] “From the Sun with Love,” 2017, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

[5] “Rising Sun,” 1780. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.