"What do I need to do to get that internship?"

"How much is that going to be?"

"How will that affect my GPA?"

The first word that comes to mind when we think of college is "stress." We enter this new chapter of life, bright-eyed and ready to go, but then we soon realize the expectation of a university is for us to know what we're going to do for the rest of our lives and how we're going to get there. Wait, what? I am so deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue a higher education and I don't know about you but I am sick of living paralyzed in fear of failure and the unknown.

I am writing this to tell you that we can stop worrying. Better yet, we are expected to stop worrying.

Countless times The Bible shares that we do not to be afraid.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope -- Jeremiah 29:11

Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths -- Proverbs 3:5-6

In the Book of Joshua, after the death of Moses, God commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites to Canaan. Can you imagine being told by God to lead an entire group of people through the Jordan to a new land? That would be a lot of pressure and uncertainty.

But The Lord assures him, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go," (Joshua 1:9).

Instead of only intellectualizing the concept that The Lord is always with us and ahead of us, let us understand this with our whole hearts. We each have the opportunity to give up our own ways, as well as the ways of the world (university included) is telling us to be and do. Let's be honest, no one really knows what they're doing, so let us drop our egos and give our life to Someone who does.

I am done micromanaging, taking opportunities that only benefit me and worrying about what steps to take in order to create my "dream life." I am going to enjoy and live in today by only worrying about listening and following The Spirit, giving the upmost gratitude and loving others with grace. And by making my choices of today my biggest focus, I can trust that I will be led to a deeper, bolder and more exciting life than I could ever create for myself.

The choice is yours, my dear friends. Join me in freedom from the expectations that are actually holding us back by choosing to accept The Lord to lead our lives.