In his latest blog, “Being Safe on Campus,” Tim Mitchinson shares an experience of the power of acknowledging God as a very present help in trouble to keep us safe in every situation. Tim’s blog was published on Patch.com on October 26, 2017. Here’s Tim ~
College-life can be an extremely exciting time. It opens the door to unlimited opportunities to learn and to grow. But unfortunately, college life can sometimes expose one to violence. According to a study led by Christopher P. Krebs, PhD for the National Institute of Justice, one in 5 women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college.
In a college newsletter for students, the University of West Virginia offered various tips for preventing sexual assault, including staying with friends at parties, not accepting drinks from anyone, keeping your cell phone charged and with you, and making sure you have a ride home. These tips can help reduce one’s susceptibility to attack.
I have found another way to reduce one’s vulnerability – becoming conscious of the protecting power of God. I spend a lot of my day praying for others – and seeing the healing results of those prayers. I’ve learned a lot about successful praying through the study of two books: The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. They have taught me that acknowledging the healing presence of God in any situation can bring protection. One line from Science and Health that I have found very effective speaks about God as Love. It states, “Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you.”