EDITOR’S NOTE

Dear Reader,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7, NIV).

In his letter to the congregation in Philippi, Paul begins his last appeals by encouraging them to rejoice always in the Lord, giving their anxieties to God and letting His peace overtake them. Almost two thousand years later, Paul’s message still provokes our hearts.

As Stanford students, we strive for greatness. We fear failure, and we are quick to rely on our own strength to achieve financial and academic success. I’m sure many of you have thought at one time or another, “I’m afraid of being a nobody, so I will strive for academic recognition,” or “I’m afraid of being poor, so I will work toward a career that can provide me with financial security.” Rather than rely on our own strength to quell our fears, a strategy that will inevitably fail, Paul calls us to rely on the Lord. When we partner with Christ and allow him to take up the yoke of our lives, we turn our anxieties into prayerful petitions, and the peace of God, which transcends all human understanding, flows over us.

The essays and poems in this issue address various aspects of what it means to submit to Christ’s kingship and let him fill our lives with joy and peace. I trust you will find them gracious guides in your own search for truth.

In Christ, Abigail Schweizer Editor-in-Chief