1. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
God wrote the beginning AND the end of your story. He didn’t start with “once upon a time” and then say “I’m done. It’s your turn now.” When we trust God to guide our steps in this life then what should be fear? When the homework begins to pile up, when you’ve changed your major for the 6th time and still have no idea what you want to do, when you haven’t had time to go home to see your family, and when you feel like this week may really be the week that you quit school to become a traveling gypsy, just re-read Jeremiah 29:11. Sit back. Take a deep breath, and remember that God already knows the plans that he has for us. It is our job to have faith that He will guide us even in the most stressful moments.
2. “Don’t let anyone look down on your because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV
Do you ever get that feeling that you just aren’t old enough to make a difference or to even voice your opinion? Even as a young adult we can make a difference in the lives of others. God doesn’t call upon us based on age. He doesn’t say “Well she is only 23, so I better wait a few more years before I allow her to do my work.” HA! I get the feeling sometimes that he especially calls on us as young adults. I am one of the youngest employees in my building, but that doesn’t make my job any less important, right? It is the same idea with God’s work. We are called at a young age to set an example for others. This verse tells us to never let anyone look down upon us because we are young. We are to speak, act, and love, in a way that exemplifies faith and purity. We may bet he only example this world has of the love, grace, and mercy that God can give. Age is literally just a number when it comes to showing God’s love through our words and actions.
3. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NIV
Rest. Yes, I said the word that most college students forget even exists. When you’re overwhelmed by assignments, social events, and 5 days worth of double shifts at work this week, go and read this verse. When our bodies need rest our soul tends to need rest as well. God can calm your anxiety. God can quiet the storm that rages when we get overworked. He simply says “come to me, all who are weary and burdened..” Do not let life take control of you. You, with God’s help, take back control of your life. Take a moment to rest physically. That assignment will still be there. That social event won’t mind if you’re a little late, and tell your boss that 6 double shifts in a row is too much. While you rest physically, also rest in the fact that we serve a God who is gentle and humble. A God who simply says come to me, tell me your burdens, and I will give you a supernatural rest like no other.
4. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Here is a fun fact: Most of us will go through the “broke college kid phase”. First of all, it DOES end, but it takes hard work and dedication. Secondly, let me say something that may surprise you… embrace those days and learn from those days. I value a dollar more than I ever have before because of the days (okay sometimes weeks) that I was tired, hungry, and B-R-O-K-E! This verse tells us to be content with what we have. I know some of you are laughing saying be content with what? All I have is a pile of $500 textbooks, an empty fridge, and a gas tank that is forever on E. Well, what about the education and career training you are gaining from those books, the dorm or apartment that holds that refrigerator, or the vehicle that holds that empty gas tank? I will take it a step further and say what about that voice you are using to complain about it? Or what about each breath that you are taking while reading this? See! God will never leave us nor forsake us. Money does not equate to happiness even if a full gas tank a nice hot meal at Chili’s feels like the happiest you’ve been iin a long time. This too shall pass. God has His hand on us even when we feel like we run the struggle bus company.
5. “Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 NIV
Live today as if there is no tomorrow. The cliché of a lifetime right? WRONG. (Let me just say that goals and visions are absolutely a God thing, but be careful.) If we continue to live everyday with the idea that we will stand up and move forward tomorrow then do we ever even move? We are never promised tomorrow. We are, as this verse states, “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. God created us to live for Him today. He created us to be successful today. He created us to make a difference in our own lives and in others today. Your life matters today. If we continuously boast about tomorrow’s accomplishments, but then tomorrow never comes, then what did today’s purpose serve? Absolutely establish a vision for your future, but be careful that you miss the open door today waiting to go up the stair tomorrow. Accomplish something today. Let your light shine today, and do not wait until tomorrow, for we do not even know what will happen tomorrow.
