Hey. You, the freshman- perhaps your experiencing intense levels of heartbreak over how quickly this chapter of your life is moving. Or a sophomore who is no longer a teen, wondering how the time got away from you so fast. Maybe you’re a junior, who just turned 21 and your reminiscing on a time you were anxiously awaiting to become legal, and at the same time, have no idea exactly what you’re doing with your major and want to switch. Or a senior, looking back on your time in college and realizing you have no job lined up, no idea what you want to do yet, yet feeling the weight of the expectations placed upon you.
It’s so easy to get caught up with the superficial aspects of life. Believing what outfit you wear to your formal will define its experience, or the boy your heart and head refuse to let go even though he’s a waste of your time. That by letting go of this boy, your letting goes of any chance of marriage and children and a chance to do life with someone. Maybe it’s that you’re too focused on the number that some believe to define you- your GPA. How smart you are, what kind of job you’ll get, and what you’ll get out of life. Maybe it’s the fear of the future that creeps on you constantly, consuming you, instead of living in the present and choosing joy.
Maybe your struggling with the fact people are drifting from you, blaming yourself and wondering your worth in this world. Stop holding onto those friendships- there are billions of people on this planet. People change, people come, people go- don’t dwell on this. It’s the way God intended it. To bring people in and out of your life with a purpose in mind. Know this- you are loved, you are important. You mean something to someone, you are special. You are unique, crafted by someone who loves you with a specific purpose in mind. You are capable of real joy, experiencing real love, real friends, and a real life you get to construct yourself.
In all these consistencies that life brings us, one thing remains constant to the end of time- God. Jesus was sent to wreak your life and put it back together more beautifully. This promise is achieved by faith and faith alone, and is hard to grasp when your blinded by change and sin around you. But it’s there, and it’s real, and its worth finding.
Take a moment and reflect on who you are- what you believe, the company you keep, and how you run your life. What you’re involved in, what you’re doing for you- what you’re doing for others. Are you fulfilled with what you’re doing with your life?
Maybe you’ve made a mistake you believe defines you, maybe you’ve made the same mistake over and over that’s become your bad habit. This, doesn’t define who you are or who you hope to be one day. Maybe you feel unloved or unimportant, an insignificant body just going through the everyday motions.
Maybe you’re lost and confused as to what the absolute HECK your supposed to be doing with your life- besides reading People and gossiping over a cup of coffee. Take that and make it worth living- read a Nicholas sparks book, serious heart tugging books- any of them. Take the gossip floating between you and your coffee mugs with your friends, and replace it with the Good book with real truth- not lies. This is where truth is found, real joy is discovered, and you are able to be a true light in this world. You are able to be an example, living for something greater, becoming living evidence- that is living.
Travel- see and do good works. Go to the beach and walk barefoot, jump through the waves with your clothes on- walk through a museum and get educated. Take a language class, learn to cook. Try a food you’ve sworn to hate. Ask that cute boy on your date night, even if you barely know him. Go out in the world and live boldly- stay spontaneous, be the one others live vicariously of. I promise, if you do this you’ll grow humble, kinder, and happier. Lastly, meet as many people as you can with so many different backgrounds. Know their story, know what makes them, them. Do something you’ve always wanted to do- live a life to the fullest here on earth.
So whatever- the boy you promised to spend your life with isn’t the one- you’ll still find love. Your grades aren’t perfect, and you didn’t get your dream job. Your best friend left you for another friend group, and you’re feeling alone, vulnerable, and betrayed. Throughout this heartache, HE is still good. He is still true, and His promises are real and His desire for you to know Him and love you is real. Take that jump, live boldly, and live to the fullest.
