All Is Well
Two weeks ago, I met with a dean from my college at a coffee shop. As we drank our tea, they asked me questions about senior year, my post-graduation plans, and what an ideal career would look like. The last question they asked me was: “What is one thing you would like to accomplish this year?” I sat in silence for a few moments, thinking about what set goals I have. As my relationship with the Lord has grown stronger, I have begun seeing everything in my life through a spiritual lens and have surrendered to the Lord all of my plans. My most important objective is to obey the word of God and to follow His will for my life. Finally, I answered, “In full transparency, my faith and belief in Jesus Christ is a very important part of who I am and the steps that I take towards my future. So, the one thing that I would like to accomplish this year is to be able to hear Him and follow through with what He has for me. I do worry about getting it wrong.” The dean then says, “I have a friend who is a pastor at a church and I asked them: ‘How do you know if you’re doing the right thing?’ and my friend responded: ‘Jesus is loud! He will be loud enough to redirect you.’” We left the coffee shop and those words followed me through the remainder of the week.
As I started applying to jobs and to graduate school, I was experiencing some anxieties. I prayed for my future but had still not yet received any revelation. I felt silence. What’s next God? What am I supposed to be doing to God? Am I qualified to do this God? Is this what you have for me God? God, what am I missing? I went to meet with my major advisor to discuss my options even further. Through our conversation, I expressed these same anxieties and the doubts circling my mind. My advisor responds, “You have the qualifications and have prepared enough to succeed in any program you choose. If a door is closed for you, it is simply the Lord redirecting you.”
Subconsciously, I was expecting for Jesus Himself to mail me a thick binder with my 10 year plan, so to speak. Sometimes silence teaches us the importance of silence; The importance of waiting on Him. It forces you to have faith in the Lord's sovereignty. What should you do during a period of silence? Remember His faithfulness and past blessings. Live today on what He has already told you. As I proceed in this transitional phase in my life, I do this keeping in mind His sovereignty and having faith that He will place me where I need to be when the time comes.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) reads:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In this passage, Jesus teaches us that worry is unproductive. If Jesus provides for even the birds and the flowers; If Jesus pays such attention to detail to the birds and the flowers; If Jesus established a purpose for even the birds and the flowers, imagine you. Imagine how much more He will provide for you, how much more attention to detail He gives you, and the purpose that He has for you. We may not know what lies ahead but we serve a Sovereign father who only asks that we seek His righteousness and He will take care of the rest.
If you have found yourself worrying about the future or about what’s in store for you, please pray with me;
Father God,
We bless you for our lives, we give you praise for your abundant mercy and grace we receive. We thank you for your faithfulness even though we may have not been faithful to you. Grant me peace of mind and calm my worries. My mind is like a turbulent sea. I can't seem to find my balance so I stumble and worry. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to seek your righteousness and walk the path you've laid out for me. I trust your Love God, and know that you will heal this stress.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen