Ahhhhh!!! My goodness, this semester flew by. I know that is what almost everyone says, but I just cannot believe that freshman year at Biola is soon coming to a close.

I am sure you have heard about all the college campuses closing--and it sure feels like my second semester was cut short with an ending that nobody could have anticipated. However, that community at Biola that everyone RAVES about? That community makes it feel almost as if we never left. I have never been so thankful for Marco Polo, Zoom Calls and Facetimes from across the country!

My second semester at Biola was better than I could have dreamed of. In January, I walked back onto campus having more of an idea of who I was, what I was doing and just a feeling of belonging. The Lord began to solidify my identity, my friendships and He started making my life path a little more clear as He promises in Psalm 16:11,

“You make known to me the path of life, you fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

I truly was thriving in my classes as a Biblical Theology major--the best feeling in the world is where you are certain that you’re in the right place. I cultivated deeper friendships with some of the godliest men and women I have ever met.

I am a visual person and I often see images when I am pondering the Lord’s work in my life. The vision he gave me for my first year at Biola is this:

My life is a garden. When I came to Biola, my garden was overgrown. It was full of weeds and maybe even a few wildflowers. When I came to Biola, the Lord began the process of digging up the weeds and the overgrown wildflowers. This process was painful and confusing and often left me feeling like there was no life in my garden. But the Lord remained the faithful gardener. Entering into my second semester with nothing in my garden was scary. Yet the Lord began this process all over again. He planted seeds and faithfully watered them, tending to every square inch of the garden. After a while it began to bud and bloom. God pruned what was not useful and continued to water the flowers. I look at my garden now and see nothing but beautiful, strong, healthy flowers with bold colors. This semester has definitely been a season of growth, but I have also begun to see the beauty that has blossomed as a result of the careful, faithful tending of my abba, father, the gardener. I am still learning to abide in Christ and remain in Him (John 15:4) and trust that every part of me that doesn’t bloom, he will prune so that it will.

“For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom…”

Isaiah 61:11 (MSG)

All that to say, my second semester was an absolute blast. I truly see Biola as my home and I am counting down the days till I can move back in and start my Sophomore year. Biola makes it so hard to say goodbye, and for that I will forever be grateful. If you are making the transition to college, I am beyond excited for you. You cannot imagine the goodness (and growth) that the Lord has in store for you. The best days are most definitely yet to come. Now, on to the next adventure...Summer!

I really hope I get the chance to meet you on campus and hear about how much you ADORE the place you will soon get to call home.

XO,

Jess

Jessie, in a field of wildflowers
Jessie, in a field of wildflowers