In the recent article entitled, The Summer Before Leaving for College (click here to review), you were encouraged to be organized for the remainder of the summer, and to also practice fully living in each moment. The purpose of this follow-up article is to address the mental and emotional matters of planning to leave home. Take your time absorbing the following information, maybe even scheduling some of these matters and ideas to take place throughout your summer rather than thinking about them all at once.

Be Proactive

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:24)

Even while you’re exercising being present-minded, you know there are potential challenges coming your way. To guard yourselves from fear and dread, review the list of possible problems so you’ll be ready to apply solutions.

• Pressure to engage in the “normal” college lifestyle
• Negative influences from new peers
• A demanding course-load
• Slow transition into living on your own
• The challenge of finding new friends and facing loneliness
• Experiencing professors or curriculum with a post-Christian agenda (both subtle and blatant)
• Being tempted by pleasures that have the potential for negative results
• Struggles finding a church home and/or campus ministry

The above list is not to discourage you, but to help you prepare. Consider writing in a journal the items that are highest risk for you and use them as prayer points and talking points with those who support you the most.

A Time To Grow Closer To One Another & To God

• Preparing for college is a time where both students and parents are having mixed emotions about this rite of passage. Share openly with one another in order to bring authenticity and closeness to your relationship, and as the way to comfort one another with the comfort of the Lord.
• Give and share prayer requests, and then commit to praying them. If you’re not in the habit of praying together, this can be a powerful time to begin and even continue the habit remotely once you’re gone.
• Consider watching the God’s Not Dead movie as a family and discuss the issues of peer influence, dating issues, mentors, and opposition of values.

You have instant access to two great books of the Bible that will strengthen you to respond well to any or all of the above. Discover the ways 2 Timothy and James can be most helpful to you in this season of your life. Perhaps make these books your summer devotional as a family.

…the Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation…and equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:1, 17)

A Launching Community

Parents

• Ask godparents, family friends, mentors, older students, etc. to provide fellowship, meal sharing, and support for your student, especially when first getting situated at school.
• Include suitable Scripture and written prayers in care packages.
• If you’re not already a part of a Moms In Prayer group or something similar, this would be a great time to join other moms praying for students together.
• Support a trustworthy campus ministry. Your donations can really help provide crucial, Christ-centered support for these young adults facing a world of opposition.

Students

• One idea you might enjoy is asking the Lord to put a theme on your heart to pray for this year (and each year) of college and ask Him to lead you to corresponding Scripture, providing His power and Word to the theme. Share the theme with others in your close community who are praying and supporting your new adventure.
• If you plan to pursue counseling during college, on-campus professionals (often misaligned with your values) are not the only option. Relationships with your Christian counselor back at home can often be continued through FaceTime and other options, or you can find independent Christian counselors in your new college town. For parents and siblings remaining at home, a Christian counselor can also help navigate the change in family relationships.

This article is a resource to give you awareness, and your heavenly Father is the one who will make His way before you. (Ps. 5:8)