Where are all of my college seniors at?! As if you need another reminder, graduation is seriously SO close! Whether that brings you excitement or anxiety, you’re at the final stretch of turning in papers, finishing projects and preparing for the last round of tests.
Maybe you are still applying for jobs, or you can’t decide which offer to accept. Maybe you’re waiting to get into graduate school, or maybe you’re not even a senior, but you’re quickly approaching changes that you don’t feel ready for. I GET IT. Decisions can be scary, and in fact terrifying sometimes, because you feel like the weight of your entire future rests in your hands (and you’re a nervous wreck). We have quite a few decisions coming up this year that could guide us in all different directions, so I can completely relate.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m not a huge fan of change (shocker, right?). I’m very “Type A” when it comes to planning. I like to know the exact outcome for every potential decision, and when I don’t, I tend to get anxious. I constantly have to remind myself to take each day at a time, because 1) tomorrow isn’t always promised, and 2) God’s plan is far greater than mine.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” — Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
It takes a LOT of bravery and courage to hand it all over to God. Placing complete trust in Him can be difficult, but so much rest and comfort comes with knowing that your future is in His hands. But wait — this doesn’t mean just dropping everything and saying, “Okay, God. Here you go. Do something with all of this.” We are called to take action.
The more we grow our relationship with God, the more our plans and desires will line up with His. This gradually gives us more confidence in our decisions, which makes them the slightest bit easier, and ultimately gives us rest. God’s desire is for us to trust and find rest in Him. So how can we grow our relationship with God AND find peace in our decisions?
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
Ask God to make His plans and desires our own. Listen to Him through prayer. Ask Him for guidance. Tell Him you feel lost, stuck or anxious. It’s okay to not have life completely figured out. It’s okay if you don’t get your dream job. It’s okay if you’re taking a different path than everyone else. God will open the door for you, invite you into His loving arms, and give you confidence that His plan is greater.
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April 27, 2018 at 10:01 am
A great encouragement to the graduates to live for the Lord and to keep their focus on him! Life flies by! Focusing on what really matters is essential!
April 28, 2018 at 9:04 am
Absolutely! Thanks for reading. 🙂
April 27, 2018 at 11:59 am
Thank you, Sydney, for this very timely post. My daughter is graduating from college with her BA in just a little over one week from now, and I am going to send her your blog post. It is so important, during this time of transition and change, to keep our eyes on the “anchor of our soul”, Jesus, who never changes. He remains the same! Be blessed, Lisa Q
April 28, 2018 at 9:06 am
He DOES remain the same! Thanks for sharing with your daughter, I hope she feels strengthened and comforted by the Lord.
April 27, 2018 at 12:19 pm
A very special message. I am thinking of all the seniors I know who are graduating and heading out into the world. God bless each one of them. 🙂
April 28, 2018 at 9:07 am
Yes! Thank you for reading.
April 27, 2018 at 8:57 pm
Great words to live by. As we get closer to God, His ways become our desires. Thanks for posting. God bless!
April 28, 2018 at 9:07 am
Amen! Thanks for your sweet comment!
April 28, 2018 at 10:59 am
Hi Sydney!
You have such a lovely blog here. Simple and easy to navigate website structure.
Yes, the last couple of months are sure a rush before finishing the school. I remember that clearly. I can relate, I’m not a huge fan of changes either, and often I tend to think it just something trendy people say when they say they love changes (because that’s what all the others say).
My favourite line in this particular blog post was this one: “It takes a LOT of bravery and courage to hand it all over to God.” I love the way your approach topics here, because this is not the usual sugar-talk, respect.
God bless!
Edna Davidsen
April 28, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Thank you for your kind words, Edna! I’m glad you could relate – I definitely think dealing with changes is something everyone struggles with. Thanks for reading!
April 28, 2018 at 11:20 am
Yes I agree. A degree is not what gives you success and significance in life. Jesus will give that to you so that you can be blessed to be a blessing. If we learn to rely complete on His love and grace for us, we will have a bright future ahead.
April 28, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Amen! Thanks for reading!
April 30, 2018 at 11:50 am
As someone who went back to school for graduate school in her thirties, I can attest to “it’s okay not to have everything figured out.” I think society puts pressure on young adults to have it all figured out so they can have the dream job, white picket fence, happy marriage and 2.4 kids. I’m glad that it’s not reality! We have a creative God that takes us down paths that lead to more of an adventure that also function more to His will.
April 30, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Deciding to go back for graduate school is a huge accomplishment, way to go! You’re totally right, there’s a “perfect” cookie cutter expectation that people have that God trumps. Thanks for stopping by!
April 30, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Ugh, college graduation was such a stressful time. I ended up needing to graduate a year early because of finances, which left me having to make the “what to do after school” decisions a year earlier. What’s more, none of the things that I hoped for had panned out. I left college without an engagement ring (or even a boyfriend or potential boyfriend), a dream job, or a sense of what I was supposed to do. It was tough. God brought me through it thought. It wasn’t always the way or the timing I would have chosen, but he had a plan even when my little planner self was out of ideas and completely lost. He is good and gracious and there’s nothing we can do (or not do) that will ruin the plans that he has for our lives.
April 30, 2018 at 5:05 pm
God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect! That sounds so tough, but I always find that when I follow Jesus down a narrow path I become more reliant and trusting in Him, and maybe that’s all part of his plan. Thanks for your sweet comment!
May 2, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Commit your ways to the Lord and He shall establish your path .This verse helped me a lot after graduating .
Great post for all the graduating warriors !
May 2, 2018 at 11:48 pm
That is definitely a good one! Thanks for reading!
May 4, 2018 at 10:40 am
Congrats on graduating. I graduated back in 2010 and your words here still ring true!
May 5, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Thank you! Absolutely – trusting in God through any season of change is necessary!
June 28, 2018 at 6:16 am
Enjoye
July 2, 2018 at 9:20 am
Congratulations on your graduation! I just had a son graduate. What you share here rings true no matter what stage of life you are in. Thank you for the encouragement.
July 5, 2018 at 9:45 am
Thanks so much for reading, Leigha!
July 20, 2018 at 12:11 pm
I got what you mean, thank you for posting. Woh I am lucky to find this website through google.
July 21, 2018 at 8:21 pm
Thanks so much for reading! 🙂