In the blink of the eye I am all of a sudden in the last two weeks of my junior year at Auburn University. I honestly feel like I just moved into the dorms last week! How the heck did this happen so fast? I swear every year gets faster and faster and as I’m realizing that I know it means my senior year is going to come and go before I know it. I can’t help but to be filled with anxiety and nerves.
I came in three years ago with a plan to graduate in four years and immediately head to graduate school to get my MBA at the business school here in Auburn. It’s what my answer has been every time someone asks me my plans for my future and to be honest it’s been a safety net for me to not have to think about “adult life” yet. Whenever my friends have talked about internships and jobs I always zone out and think, “Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about that yet!” Well, this year has been a lot of things for me and God has stirred up my heart in many ways, one of which is telling me it’s time to leave. I’m tearing up as I write this because Auburn is so special and it’s been home to me for quite some time now. What’s life without Toomer’s Corner? What will I do on a fall Saturday without Jordan-Hare? To be honest, I couldn’t tell you I feel confident about answering either of those questions. But I can’t fight this feeling in my heart that God has other things for me to experience and there is an excitement in that!
Because I am a planner by nature it has always been a struggle for me to “Let Go and Let God.” I’m pretty sure my philosophy has always been “I’ll Plan, See you there God!” but that’s so opposite from what it should be! As I have slowly learned to let go and truly allow God to direct me on His path I have found this new freedom. Yes, it’s still so scary to not have a true idea of where I want to go with my life but also I have this amazing God holding my future in His hands! God tells us in Isaiah 43:18-19, “But forget all that- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” I mean I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty fantastic to me! The name of this section of Isaiah 43 is “The Lord’s Promise of Victory.” That alone is encouragement enough! Even in the unknowing and insecurities I have in myself of branching away from this little town that’s been home, I know that I can rely on the one and only, incredible, all knowing, unfailing, forever loving God of ours. He truly cares about each and every single one of us, as crazy as that is, and His plans are far greater than what we could ever come up with on our own! My favorite song right now is Captain by Hillsong United. Every time it comes on I am immediately brought down to earth and humbled by the incredible power of God. It says, “Like the stars your word will align my voyage and remind me where I've been and where I am going. Lost in the shallows amidst fear and fog your truth is the compass that points me back north. Jesus, My Captain.” Those simple lyrics are all that I need to remind me who holds my future and that no matter how scared or lost I may get, my path will be made clear to me if I rely on God. How powerful is it to know that no matter how much you think you’ve messed up God is always there to lead you back home!
So, don’t spend another second of your day worrying about the next step to take in life. Turn to God. He has the answers and He will guide you to more happiness than you could ever imagine if you just give Him the chance! There is so much power in letting go of controlling your life and letting God lead you to where you’re meant to be, trust that and be free from all your fears and insecurities.
“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 a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
