As the end of my college career approached, all I could think about was how thankful I would be to finally NOT be in school. I thought the next year would be the beginning of the rest of my life. I would be a real adult and have real responsibilities. Life would be amazing. The stress of school would dissipate. No more papers, no more all-nighters, and I would finally cut back on my caffeine intake.
Post-grad life would involve going to my dream job, meeting my friends for after work drinks, traveling, and simply starting the rest of my wonderful life. Naïve, right? Unfortunately, I think many college graduates have similar aspirations.
Lately, I've come across an abnormal amount of blogs and articles with titles like, "23 things they don't tell you about being 23." Unlike a lot of the posts I come across while surfing social media, I've caught myself thinking about just how much these posts hit home.
As a postgraduate I am overworked, underpaid, drowning in student loans, and clinging to what is left of my social life.
Some days are great. I go through my normal daily routine and rest my head easy that night, but many days are not. Often times I find myself with a never ending stream of questions about my future running through my head. Should I go get my masters? Will I ever find my dream job? Did I pay all of my bills? What happened to all of my friends? Why is it that 80 percent of the people I graduated college with are now engaged? Should I have another glass of wine? (The answer to that last one is always..YES.)
Lately, I have been driving myself mad with all of these worries. I can't eat, I can't sleep. Sometimes I find it difficult to even make conversation with people, because I have so much on my mind. I just want answers! I want to know how things are going to work out and WHEN they will work out. That's when the thought occurred to me, "Have I prayed about this as much as I have worried about it?" Have I taken the time to ask God for comfort and guidance in my moments of neuroticism? I've talked to my friends, my parents, my superiors, etc. But, have I talked to HIM nearly as often as I have talked to others?
That is one of the most beautiful things about being a Christian. You can take comfort in knowing there IS always a plan and a purpose. God brings people and opportunities in and out of our lives. Maybe they come for a few weeks, a few months, or a few years, but they always come for a reason. He has meticulously planned your life and labeled it with a purpose. The challenge is to remember this when life isn't fair and nothing seems to be going your way. Maybe you didn't get that job you really wanted, that promotion, or you're facing the end of yet another relationship. That's OKAY. Change your thoughts. Instead of trying to figure it all out on your own, PRAY ABOUT IT. Don't let your desires cloud your judgment. Know that God takes things out of your life when they are no longer meant to be in it.
Look forward to the future and knowing these hard times will pass, but also be present in the happy moments. You are young, you are free, and you are loved. Twenty-three is one stepping stone on your path to greatness.
The best is yet to come.
