Most of us don’t like change. In fact, many of us hate it. We don't like being chiseled away at, but it is a major part of our growth in Christ. It is his way of making us to be more like him- and that's definitely a good thing!
Many college students struggle with thoughts of the future. We dwell on it and it is constantly producing worry in our lives. But this is not what God asks of us. In fact, he asks quite the opposite.
Matthew 6:25-28 tells us, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more important that food, and the body more than clothes (and the Lord's plans more than yours)? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Seriously, why do we worry? We are told over and over throughout the Bible not to. God has got it. He knows way more than we do and can see the whole picture, whereas we can only see what is occurring right in front of us. Thank goodness that HE is the Sovereign One.
Living in the society that we do today, it seems as if all teenagers are pressured to have their entire lives planned out. By 18, they should know that they want to be a lawyer, married to a very successful and good looking spouse, own a 3 story house and a vacation house in Tahiti, with 3.5 kids. We are being rushed to make decisions about the rest of our lives. Hello. I don't even know what I want "to be" when I grow up... I think this mold needs to be broken.
I’m not suggesting that planning for the future is a bad thing. Actually, preparing for your life down the road can be an incredibly smart thing to do, as long as you seek God’s will through it all.
If we would turn to the Lord and seek his guidance, rather than the guidance counselors at school and everyone but the Lord, our lives would be much less miserable. The Lord has a plan for us that is far better than one we could imagine up ourselves.
In order to figure out His divine plan, a few things are necessary: spending time with the Lord, reading his word, listening to him, praying to him, asking him for wisdom to understand. Jesus wants a relationship with us, in fact, this is one of His true desires. He loves us and wants what is best for us, but sometimes we need to be taught a lesson. We know that the Lord never tempts us in any way whatsoever, but He allows us to be tested in order for us to grow and mature.
"...the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:3-4
The Lord is faithful and he wants what is best for his children. If his best means not dating in your current season of life, then choose to listen to his voice and obey. If his best means not attending your “dream school,” so be it. If his best means removing toxic relationships from your life, trust him enough to follow through with that. You have a choice: his best, or what you think is the best. And I’ll let you in on a little secret, the first option is always the right answer. Choose his best, my friend.
His plans will far exceed all of our expectations and what we think is the end all be all. Thank you Jesus, for being in control and always knowing what is best.
