The College Pressure Cooker
I have personally felt this force and conformed to it for a couple of months. In my first semester away, I made all types of friends, but of these friends, there was only one I spent the majority of my time with. He was not very religious, and oftentimes I found myself not defending my view or faith because I didn’t want to lose our friendship. Eventually, it became rather controlling. Being tempted to skip class, sneak in alcohol on the weekends and even some school nights. I knew that wasn’t who I wanted to be, yet there was a large comfort in being accepted.A Test of Faith and Friendship
One Sunday, I had gone to my local Baptist church, and my friend that I had mentioned earlier asked to come along. I knew that he wouldn’t agree with whatever the sermon would be, but I thought, This is my faith, and I won’t push someone away who could potentially develop a new love for God or improve their lives.
Crazy enough, the first and last time he attended this service, the topic was about how God calls us to a traditional way of marriage between a man and a woman. When leaving the service, he told me in the car how he had felt uncomfortable, and how Jesus teaches us to love whoever we want. This was my biggest test to stand up for my faith. I didn’t want to lose a friend, especially one who was close to all of my other friends. Would that have been the end of my social life?
Then, verse Matthew 10:33 popped into my head: “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” I knew what he had said was against Jesus’ teachings, so right then and there, I made the shift from the life of drinking and skipping class this friend had inspired to focusing on my studies and God. Unfortunately, it meant losing a friend in the process.
3 Ways to Stay True to Your Faith and Resist College Peer Pressure
1. Get involved with faith-based programs on campus.
What I have found to be very cool are the Christian programs that colleges and universities have to offer, such as Campus Ventures (as it is called on my campus) or The Newman Ministry. These groups often take field trips, host Bible studies, and are usually open to those who are just looking for friends. To maintain our faith, it is incredibly important to surround ourselves with people who are also strong in their faith, who can admonish us, and provide us fellowship and community.
2. Find activities that keep you focused on your faith.
I personally love to draw and decorate, so I’d use my free time to make prayer cards for my neighbors or write down Bible verses to hang on my wall for motivation and reminders. Pinterest has been my best friend for creation and inspiration for these projects.
3. Prioritize prayer.
Something that seems so simple yet is hard to make a habit of, is before fully waking up or going to sleep, devout time for prayer. In the morning, thank God for a safe sleep, and ask him for a productive day. When going to bed, thank him for the day, for the food you ate, and the new information you learned.
For those of you currently feeling the burden of guilt and the loneliness that can come from not finding the proper people to walk in your faith with, you are not alone. Sometimes, the best friends you can find—those who stay with you through all of your highs and lows—require a little bit of searching.
So, put yourself out there, make some real and Godly connections, and suddenly you will find that the hookup and drinking culture were never worth the disingenuous unhealthy connections. If you are feeling pressure, I encourage you to pray and ask God to lend you strength and reassurance in him. Remember, he would not allow you to be tempted by something he didn’t think you could overcome.
She might not have it all figured out, but she trusts the One who does.
(Photo by Yan Krukau/Pexels)
— Need more resources on navigating college peer pressure while staying grounded in your faith? You’ll love this podcast episode: Keeping Your Faith Under Pressure With Skillet’s Jen Ledger – 127
