This past week, I finished my junior year of high school and witnessed the senior class’ graduation. As the activities and days flew by, I found myself pondering my future plans. Among the common questions such as what to write in personal statements, what colleges to apply to, et cetera, I also found myself asking questions about my spiritual growth and faith.
One question, with several components, weighed heavily on my heart and in my mind: is my future completely consecrated to the Lord? Are my plans aligned with His, in that I am willing to follow His guidance even if it goes completely against what society says I should do? Am I depending on Him with faith that He will preserve me in my college years, and that I would be adequately prepared during my last two summers and my senior year of high school to not only retain, but also to share my faith when I enter college?
These questions are difficult to answer, if answers even exist. I find myself desperate to find ways to connect with God, to depend on Him. But what does it mean to “let go and let God?” How much of my work should I do by myself, and leave the rest in faith? As I struggle with these questions, my only assurance comes from the faith that if I continue seeking God in prayer and meditating on His Word, He will guide me in the right direction.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Trust in the Lord with all your 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
As an almost-high-school-senior, the “will of God” is something I hold to be very, very important. If I stray from what He wants me to do, I could become lost and confused. Therefore, this coming year, I want to make every effort to be conformed to God’s standards and transformed by renewing my mind with His Word. I want to come faithfully to Him in prayer and meditation on His Word every day, that through this regular time with God I would be able to discern what He wants me to do in every situation.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
As I continue this journey of life, I am also reminded to set my heart and mind on God’s plan for mankind. Getting a good education, and the plans and events that follow, is merely a method of preparing myself to be as useful to the Lord as possible. It is not to be my primary focus in life, but it is to be an aid. No matter what happens in my life, what joys and disasters, everything is done for the glory of God, that His will may be done on earth through His people.
With this mindset and assurance of the necessity of unconditional faith and God’s vision, I can take on the road ahead with confidence. However, it is not without prayer and the work of others that I can even begin this journey. I pray that my fellow brothers and sisters can encourage me in the years to come, and that I can return the blessing.
A passage in Romans 8 gives me an important closing reminder of the power of Him who is in me:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-38
Finally, let me not forget what the Lord has promised about my future, if only I fully consecrate myself and my future to Him:
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. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Sekel 