I’m a big fan of the power nap. Easy to squeeze into a busy schedule, the fifteen-minute snooze is a fitting panacea for the overbooked and exhausted. It offers immediate rejuvenation. It requires little commitment. It delivers such solace to tired eyes.

Yet the hurried siesta can only grant a transient and physical repose from the many demands in my life. Despite the anaerobic boost of sorts it provides so I can tackle my to-do list, the quick refuel fails to supply the stillness I need to bolster my spirit or feel truly renewed. For that, I must turn to God.

I’ll be the first to admit I have a tendency to overload myself, often knowingly taking on more responsibilities and making more promises than what is considered healthy for an average college student. I would even venture to say a part of me thrives on it. The excitement of a new undertaking and the lure of getting involved erase any bad memories of past frustrations with logistics or deadlines. I seem to forget the tiresome pushes of my perfectionist personality and workaholic nature. As a result, I let myself become trapped in a vicious cycle of growing obligations, only to watch the light I so desperately seek at the end of the tunnel continue to dim.

My stubborn insistence that accomplishment will bring fulfillment ignores reality. The daily, weekly and monthly chaos I arrange for myself will never be truly still. There will always be a ripple to disturb the most tranquil of waters and a storm to follow the calm, no matter how hard I fight to control the externalities of my world.

I’ve slowly come to realize that I don’t have to be a vessel tossed by the changing tides of appointments or blown off course by the tumultuous winds of chores. I can achieve true stillness by pursuing an internal peace, immovably rooted in my trust in God and guarded by His love. The light I ultimately seek isn’t at the end of the tunnel; it’s found in my faith in God and always with me, even in the shadows. As Psalm 36:9 reads, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

I often wonder why it’s a constant struggle for me to recognize the value of silence and stillness as part of my everyday routine, when as a Christian I’m called to rest in God’s care. Time and again I let God’s light grow faint to navigate the tunnel’s darkness alone, when His illumination is the only sure means of unwavering strength and direction. I’m too quick to worry about the present turmoil and forget I’m ensured an eternity of peace.

While I’d like to blame the growing pains of college for my failure to spend enough uninterrupted time with God, the juggling act of the last three years has probably been the biggest impetus for me to evaluate what’s important in my life and what values I hope to exemplify as an independent adult. In the midst of school assignments and social distractions, I’ve realized how robust I want my faith to be and how much I need quality prayer and meditation to achieve my aims.

Unless I allow myself to be still before the Lord and trust in the unflinching sustenance of His power and love, I can’t hope to find peace within the multitasking madness of today’s society. The cell phone will keep ringing. The days will grow longer. And the light of my faith will grow faint.

As Ephesians 6:17 proclaims, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes with the gospel of peace.”

Just as I boost my weary eyes with a power nap, I must enliven my spirit with powerful prayer.

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