When I was a younger, blonde haired, bright-eyed child, my father told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. My grandmothers told me that I could marry the man of my dreams. My mother told me that I could live anywhere in the world. What my sweet, optimistic family forgot to mention was how stressful and intimidating the climb towards those dreams would be.
Now, in my early 20s, I find that life is more complicated than I ever imagined it could be. I live in this constant state of panic and worry. I worry about graduating on time. I worry about finding a job. I worry about losing my boyfriend. I worry about making the wrong decisions. I worry about having to live on my own. I worry about my GPA. I worry about not having any friends. I live my young, adult life in this constant state of worry.
In the words of Meredith Grey, "You don't know this yet, but life isn't supposed to be like this. It's not supposed to be this hard."
We live under all this pressure of being the perfect "adult." What we tend to forget is who made up these higher standards we strive to reach—our parents? Pop culture? Regional expectations? Our college?
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefor no thought for morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6: 31-34, KJV
As Christians, we are promised by God that he will take care of our every need. As people, we are not promised another day, another hour or even another minute. So why waste the precious time that we have worrying about the future?
I choose to stop wasting my time worrying when I don't truly know how much of a future I have left. I find that what helps the most with my anxiety is reaching out to God. I pray to him and just talk with him about my fears and worries. Sometimes, I don't feel an instant relief. But all the time, that relief comes. It's powerful and welcoming.
I urge you to enjoy this time as a young adult. I urge you to stop wasting your life away sweating the small stuff. Take this time to look around you and appreciate what is right there. Enjoy the right now, and give praise for what you have.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14: 27, KJV
