Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

rhythms

A Prayer for These Summer Months

hope photo
Photo by sspiehs3

This summer, we’re sharing prayers for and by Christian scholars in our network. We hope this is a chance for readers to connect with each other and with God, to be encouraged, and to pray together. May this series remind us of how the church is connected across time and space in the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Today we welcome back ESN author Kelly Seaton. You may enjoy browsing her other work for Emerging Scholars Network, which includes the Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences series and three posts in Navigating Beginnings / Scholar’s Compass. Note: Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Nailing the Interview is the ESN Blog’s most visited post of all time. To God be the glory! 

Father God,

Over these summer months, may our trust in you be strengthened and renewed, as we take time to recharge from our normal rhythms. [Read more…] about A Prayer for These Summer Months

Scholar’s Compass Navigating Beginnings: Relying on God’s Strength and Blessing Others

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary. . . . He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength. – Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV)

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. –  Proverbs 11:25 (ESV)

Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

Earlier this week we looked at God’s sustaining grace in the midst of new beginnings—times that can bring both excitement and anxiety. We see excitement build for new areas of study, new students and colleagues, perhaps even a new location to explore and begin to call home. But then the semester quickly progresses and becomes filled with to-do lists, committee meetings, teaching, and writing. We find ourselves buried under assignments and deadlines and the excitement and passion for scholarship and study often shifts into autopilot and survival mode. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Navigating Beginnings: Relying on God’s Strength and Blessing Others

Scholar’s Compass Navigating Beginnings: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety

Image courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

Reflection

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. Crisp mornings, warm afternoons, jumping back into rhythms and routines after a summer filled with barbeques, family reunions, and time to just sit back and relax. It is full of excitement and back-to-school activities bringing crisp new school supplies and football games and all things pumpkin spice.

I remember well that fall when I started graduate school–the excitement, the anticipation of starting something new. Orientation activities and faculty seminars inviting students to something big, something interesting, something important. Starting classes, wondering “when are they going to discover that they’ve made a mistake–I’m really not as smart as they thought I was!” Struggling to balance new and ever increasing demands on my time and energy and oh yeah, I really should fit exercise and rest in here somewhere, right? [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Navigating Beginnings: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety