Facing the Unknown

If you’re reading this, chances are you may be in a time in your life where you’re facing some unknowns. You may be questioning if you’re making the right decisions in certain aspects of your life or wondering what the future holds. Well guess what? I’m in the exact same situation. I’ve met a lot of you in the last few months and gotten to know some of your stories intimately and I’ve just got to say... ME TOO, y’all! We are at a crucial age in our lives where the decisions we make now will impact us for the rest of our lives and I know that weight is a heavy one, especially amid a pandemic. So first, take a deep breath and know you’re not alone. 

The blindness of walking through this life is something scary. But it’s a good thing Jesus tells us to keep our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2.) Ask yourself, “Where is my focus?’ We make our plans and we track our life but as most of you know, at the end of the day, if it’s not in God’s will it just isn’t going to happen. At certain turns we’re hitting roadblocks and having to circle back, and this can be disappointing but that’s because we can’t see exactly where the Lord is leading us. Have y’all ever heard that Carrie Underwood song, “Jesus take the Wheel”? Well she had the right idea, because that’s exactly what He’s doing and there is no better “driver” than the maker of the universe, can I get a (virtual) Amen?  

We’re staring blankly, wondering what God’s doing with our lives, but He’s already planned. He’s sending you down the paths He mapped for you long before you ever breathed, long before failed career paths, and way, WAY long before Covid-19. He’s closing doors and rerouting some of us according to His purpose. Through all this there are so many things that we don’t know. But the one thing we do know is the most important reassurance there is: That God knows, He’s driven down those roads and already seen the future, the ins and outs, and He’s divinely orchestrating our lives WAY better than we could ever imagine. So, keep making your plans, embrace the unknown, heed the voice of the Holy spirit, and relax into what you DO know and that is we serve an Almighty Father who is routing us into His divine purpose for all of eternity.  

Verses of encouragement when facing the unknown  

Jeremiah 29:11

Psalm 32:8

John 10:27-29

Isaiah 43:2  

Aging with Wisdom

Recently I turned twenty. It’s the first birthday that I've ever felt negatively towards. I realized that my feelings had shifted from being excited and happy to grow older, to worrying and having a slight fear of aging. There's something about not having a ‘teen’ in my age anymore that scared me. However, I decided to still go out and make my birthday special. I wonder what would change if we started celebrating age like we did when we were nine.  

The longer we are alive, the more experience and wisdom we gain. Our views change and we see life in new ways. I think that's a beautiful gift that absolutely deserves to be celebrated. God reminds us that aging is an honor: “Gray hair is a glorious crown, it is found in the ways of righteousness,” Proverbs 16:31. God treasures us at every age and as we get older, we’re called to pass our self control, kindness, and nurture down to those younger than us. When speaking about older women God says “They are to teach what is good” Titus 2:3

We can lean into God as we age. If you feel afraid or worried about aging and how you spend your time, you can find specific promises in the word that can bring you peace. “I will be the same until your old age and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you,” Isaiah 46:4. God has a plan for each one of us and that plan doesn’t end just because we get older.

For me, this birthday has inspired me to learn more and experience as much as I can despite what season of life I’m in. We’re always changing and growing; don’t wait for a milestone to feel special. Celebrate life daily, every day and year we’re given is a gift from God.