Last week Blake, Kelsie, Eden, and I went on a prayer walk on campus at University College Dublin (UCD). While we were there, we ran into a friend of ours who is in graduate school. He is a Christian and also has a desire to see his campus transformed. While describing the student culture on campus, he said that there is a huge emphasis on excessive drinking. In fact, the college has a bar located on campus.
As we were walking and praying, the Lord spoke to me about something lacking in a campus where drunkenness is celebrated: purpose. People who have purpose that comes from Jesus do not pursue empty things. In spite of all the ups and downs in life, they know that no matter how low they feel they have an eternal destiny and a present task on this earth. There are no gaps in their lives that they need to fill with shallow pleasures.
There is an unparalleled pleasure in knowing that Jesus has a purpose for us in every phase of life...even the times where we might feel a bit aimless. I find no greater joy than knowing the Lord is unfolding my destiny in Him. I can have hope and peace through challenges as well as times of happiness.
As we finished the walk at UCD, I prayed that the Lord would give the students a new kind of joy that will fill every gap in their lives. There will be no need to pursue the counterfeit - they will discover the real thing. Please pray with us that the students at UCD as well as all the others in Dublin will encounter Jesus and receive His joy for them.