Article December 7, 2015 Issue

Graduate school and God’s guidance

Mark Catlin

First appeared as a Web Original on September 21, 2015.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). Years ago, I learned exactly how true those words are. I was just beginning as a student of Christian Science, starting to comprehend vital facts about myself, such as my identity as spiritual rather than material, and that I am made in the image and likeness of God, Love, who loves me more than I can even comprehend.

Leading up to my graduation from college, I had gotten to a point in my understanding of my relationship to God where I knew I could count on Him to support and guide me. I especially loved the Bible story about Ruth. It is a wonderful depiction of unconditional love and steadfast trust. Ruth was so loyal and loving to her mother-in-law, Naomi. And that she was putting her trust in God (whom she as yet knew only through Naomi’s trust in Him) is beautifully implied in her declaration to Naomi: “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth was faithful and courageous in going with Naomi to a strange land, trusting that the real God would actively care for Naomi and her as they left Moab for a new life in Judah. Like Ruth, I had learned to see God as real, and I understood that He cared for me and would direct my path. I wholeheartedly trusted in God for help as I made decisions for my future.

Through prayer, as well as careful consideration of what was right to do, I had determined that the next right step for me after college was to go to graduate school. This was all fine and good, except I had not figured out how to pay my tuition, nor did I have any idea of how I was going to pay for living expenses while at school. Despite the daunting circumstances, with my newfound understanding and trust in God, I felt strongly that I could proceed and that the right way forward would be shown to me.

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