God is in the journey by Ashley Matyac

High School and College are amazing years. They’re filled with amazing new friendships, fun experiences, laughing ‘til your stomach hurts, and late night runs to Taco Bell. But if we are honest, they can also be stressful years. I’m not referring to the dreaded freshman 15 (though that doesn’t help), I’m talking about “life questions.”
 
Before you know it, people start asking, “What are you doing with your life?” You’ll get asked this question along with, “What’s your major?” and “What are your plans after graduation?” at least a zillion times. Suddenly, the pressure is on. We feel like we have to know. To pick. To decide, right now. We feel the need to have it all figured out, and planned out. It should sound good and look even better. 

The problem with this type of living is that this false sense of pressure boxes us in and puts the focus on ourselves, instead of on Jesus. It makes us think that our life isn’t good until we have it figured out, until it’s Instagram worthy, or until we reach some end goal.  
 
But sweet friend, I’m here to tell you that this mindset isn’t from God. God doesn’t tell you to figure it all out right now and that you’ll only be valuable once you do. No, God calls you into freedom and gives your life purpose from the very second you’ve been washed in the blood of Jesus. God is much more interested in the details of your journey than He is in getting you to some final destination. He is more interested in what He can do with you today then at some hypothetical end-point. 
 
 “Why can’t God just show me what my destiny is now?” is a common question in this season of life. 
 
We live in a world of rush and go and swipe and click and instant gratification. We know very little about slowing down and simply journeying with God. As Believers who live in a fallen world, we are often overcome by the same crazy need to zip to the finish line. We want God to act in our lives now, to make things look perfect and complete now, and we become anxious and weary if we don’t see the evidence we expect of Him moving.
 
But instead of restlessly trying to push ahead to the next thing or the self-proclaimed end goal, we need to pause and understand that God is moving in our lives now and view events in the context of our whole journey. 

When we turn inwards and continuously focus on what wethink we’re supposed to be doing, how we measure up, and how wewant our life to look, we take our eyes off of the One who is the creator and sustainer of life itself and things will get murky. 


The question that most of us want answered in this season of early adulthood is: “How do I know what my destiny is?”  
 
But the answer to this is so much simpler than we try to make it. Scripture tells us that God is always preparing us for what He already prepared for us. So we can trust Him to bring about good things for our life and we can trust His destiny for us. Because He is faithful, even when we aren’t. (2 Timothy 2:13) He is faithful, even when we don’t see it. Scripture tells us that He created good works for us to do before we were even born. So no matter if you major in psychology or biology or you’re still waiting upon the Lord for your next step, God isn’t going to let you miss out on those good works he planned for you. He is faithful and will fulfill his plans concerning you. He will never forget you!
 
But how do I get there? 
 
By journeying with him and surrendering. God cares about who you are far more than what you do. He isn’t all that interested in your job label, but in the state of your heart. He doesn’t need you on a platform, He wants you on your knees. His only call on you is to become more Christ-like and to go and make disciples. What our major, job title, income level, or relationship status is is all secondary to Him, because all those things will pass away. 

One of the biggest revelations I ever experienced was when I realized that God is a God of journeying, not finish lines. He is a God of refinement and growth. He cares about the journey, the molding, and the process. He sees our past, our present, and the future all at once and knows that our story doesn’t start when we get “there,” but that it has counted all along. 

If you were standing in front of me, I would listen to your unique struggle. I would nod and affirm and maybe even cry (or scream) with you in your frustration. But after you got it all out, I would tell you it’s time to shake off the anxiety and shift your eyes from inward to upward. Because where you look you will go. Then I’d share with you the keys that the Holy Spirit has given me to use when waiting upon the Lord.

1. Get into the Word. The Word is active and alive, sister. It has the power to renew your mind, direct your path, and speak into your soul. It will refresh you, give you right thinking, and remind you that today is just as valuable as tomorrow.
2. Speak TRUTH over your life. Here are some of my favorite verses for when the “What am I doing with my life?!” freak-outs start.

• For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 
• And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5

     3.  Check who or what is speaking into your life.Sometimes we have to block out the words of   people who aren’t pointing us towards Jesus, because those who belong to the world will cause us (often unknowingly) to focus on the wrong things and create false pressures and burdens. Make sure you have people in your life who are helping you walk in obedience, encouraging you to endure, and pointing you back to Jesus.

   4.  Focus on what you can do now. Regardless of what piece of the puzzle you think you’re waiting on, today is valuable to God. So worship, pray, speak life over others, listen to the Holy Spirit, walk humbly, guard your heart, serve where God has you, because that’s what you are called to do… He will work the rest out.  

Can we pray?

      Father,
    We are letting and giving you back control. Thank you for a fresh start with you today and for a life overflowing with purpose. We know you are good, we trust you with our future, and we love you.
Amen