“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Graduating college and transitioning to the “adulting” stage of life can be scary. I remember going into my senior year at Clemson University without a care about graduation. Then all of the sudden, it was March and I realized I only had a short amount of time left as a student. I remember having a meeting with my advisor about graduating and wanting to have a melt down right there in her office. As soon as I got in my car after our meeting, the panic started to set in. What am I going to do after I graduate? I don’t have a job lined up yet. I don’t even know what I want to do. What if I don’t get a job? What if I get a job I absolutely hate? Where am I going to live? Then, not only was anxiety present, but comparison crept in too. That person already has their dream job. This person has known what they were going to do since high school. She already has an apartment picked out and an amazing job waiting for her. If you recently graduated college or you are about to, I’m sure you’re no stranger to those uncontrollable thoughts. Trust me, you’re not alone. It might seem like everyone has it figured out except you, but that’s far from true.
Whether you already have a plan for post-graduation or you have no clue what you are going to do, this transition period can be scary. Feeling anxious about change is normal, but we have a Father who loves us and is near us each step of the way.
One day, I stopped feeling anxious about my future after college. Something changed for me. I was looking through one of my journals and re-read something I wrote whenever I first started college. I wrote about how scared I was to be hours from home and in a place where I wasn’t comfortable. I was so afraid of the unknowns and the future. As I was reading, it hit me: God has always been faithful and He has always blown away my expectations, especially in the places where I was most afraid. My first few days at Clemson, I was so anxious and fearful. I didn’t know if I’d like Clemson, if I’d make good friends, if I would do well in school, and so on. Yet, going to Clemson turned out to be some of the greatest years and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I learned so much about God and myself, I met some of my best friends and greatest people I’ve ever known, and I made some of the very best memories there. So I thought to myself in that moment, if God took something you were so anxious about and turned it into the greatest experience, won’t He do that for you in this situation, too? Being reminded of His goodness and faithfulness made me realize that there was no need to fear my future. God has been faithful and exceeded my expectations before and I knew He would do it again. I realized that I didn’t need to be afraid of my future after college like I was before college because God showed me that He is always in control and gives us immeasurably more. The same is true for you.
It’s easy to fear the future and get caught up in the unknown, but we have to remind ourselves that God is walking with us through everything and will work everything out beautifully. It’s also important to remind ourselves that He genuinely cares about us and every detail of our lives. That means He will always provide and take care of us, no matter if we know what that looks like or not. He doesn’t want us to fail. He doesn’t want us to have a bad future. He wants the best for us. He doesn’t want us to be afraid and He tells us not to worry. Rest in the promise that He will take care of you.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV)
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
It’s also easy to get caught up in comparison when it comes to this transitional stage of life. I’ve heard and read the words, “He has a plan for you” hundreds of times, but I think sometimes we miss the simplicity of it. He has a plan for YOU- it is specific to you and your needs and what God wants for you. We all have unique and different journeys of life, desires, needs and callings. God knows what we specifically need and when we need it. What the Lord has set before and entrusted with someone else won’t look exactly the same as what He sets before and entrusts you with and that is actually amazing. He has orchestrated a beautiful journey for each of our lives, not only in the future but even in the uncertain in between. Don’t miss the beauty of your journey by looking at everyone else, wondering why you “lack” what they have in this season. Remind of yourself of this promise when you are feeling overwhelmed with comparison:
“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.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
You have hope and a future.
There is so much beauty even in the confusing, uncertain transitional phase of life. Know that there is so much He is going to do in you whether you are in a season of figuring out what you are going to do or if you are transitioning right into something new. Seek Him constantly during this time. It’s such a sweet and special time of life that you get to learn more about Him and yourself. I know this season of life can be really uncomfortable and there are so many unknowns, but just know you are loved, valued, and taken care of. You are also not alone. In those moments where you feel uncertain and afraid, remind yourself that God has always been faithful and He will always continue to be. Write down how you feel during those anxious moments. Write to God and tell him all of your worries, because He cares. Surrender those thoughts to Him and trust that He has the best future in store for you. Trust that He has a different path for everyone and cares about each of them deeply. One day, in the future, you can look back on what you wrote and smile because of His goodness and faithfulness. I know that He is preparing you and guiding you to a wonderful, beautiful future.
“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead” 1 Peter 1:6 (TLB)
God knew I needed this reminder from Him💗