It's finally May, and with that comes things to look forward to. My 17th birthday (well, ours. I'm a twin!), the beginning of summer, and, of course, the end of school. Right now, I have a lot of different things going on in my head. As usual, I'm excited for the summer to start, ready for a break in my hectic schedule. But this year is a little different. This is the summer before my senior year, and the pressure is on to finalize my plans for not only college, but the rest of my life. Now, I know I'm being a little dramatic. I don't necessarily have to be ready for everything life throws at me. But for the first time ever, I have to think about things that will significantly affect my future. And I have to be honest, it's a little scary. If you're in the same boat that I am, you get what I mean. I'm just as much a "too independent teenager" as the next person, but I'm not too sure I'm ready to be an adult just yet. I mean, I'm not the most organized person, and most of the time I'm kind of scatterbrained. Do I have what it takes to be in control of my own life? Can I stay focused on my goals and work hard to be the person God wants me to be? Some days it feels like my mind is filled with never-ending questions that my unorganized self just can't seem to sort out. And a lot of the time I end up just pushing the inevitable to the back of my mind.
If you haven't already noticed, growing up is a hard thing to do. We leave everything that is familiar and venture off into the great unknown to pursue what God has called us to do. But what if we aren't sure what we're supposed to be in life? What if you're like me and you have a hard time narrowing down your interests into a sure and steady calling? I know it's not a bad thing to have lots of interests, but when it comes to picking a major it can make you feel lost. And what about the financial aspect? The money for college has to come from somewhere. I don't know about you, but the pressure of a new identity and a list of life-changing decisions is enough to bring this normally stress-free girl to her wit's end. In the blink of an eye, my tough choices just changed from, "What color popsicle do you want?", to, "How do you want to spend the rest of your life?" And, much to my dismay, my normal happy-go-lucky thought process just isn't going to cut it. To someone who doesn't know God, this is the end of the line. They thrive solely on the human instinct that in order to live a successful life, one must do everything on their own, making each lasting decision based on their own interests. But I'm going to be completely open here and say that I don't want to live like that. If it were up to me to make all the decisions and I had no God to help me figure it out, I would have a pretty messed up life. Because I'm not perfect. I have flaws that cloud my judgment, and for the most part I'm not mature enough to control my life. If I'm so clumsy that I can barely take a key out of a door, then surely I'm not capable of holding the key to my life's destiny. In short, in terms of controlling my future, I'm really not the person for the job. But I don't have to be.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, " '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 and a future." This has always been one of my favorite verses, and not just because it has my name in it. I love the fact that it reminds me that I'm not in this alone after all. Because maybe I haven't figured it all out, but He has. He created everything, including you and me, for a reason that fits perfectly into His divine plans. He selected my major for me before He created the world, and with His help everything worthwhile will eventually fall into place. And He knows your purpose, too, because He gave it to you. He created you and said, "This is my treasured child whom I have given many gifts. No matter what happens in life, no matter how lost this child feels or how the world tries to tear down what I have made, I have an amazing plan for this special creation. And if I am welcome, I will work wonders in this new life and use it for my glory. Because my love is everlasting, and my child will never be alone or without purpose. I am here for my creation, and I will always be here. I am eternal." If you haven't already, please accept God into your life and let Him work wonders in you. He wants so desperately to save you, to guide you through your life, and to give you a purpose for His kingdom. And if you have accepted Him but you're feeling like your life has no meaning or purpose, just know that it's never too late for God to work in you. Whether you're graduating high school or your life is nearing its end, no matter where you are in your journey on this earth, God has a purpose and a plan for you. All you have to do is trust Him enough to find it.
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