When I was a kid, I had many grandiose plans for my future.
I had all kinds of ideas about what early adulthood would entail, and I was
certain that everything would just sort of fall into place. While it may have
been a bit naïve to think this way, I grew up watching so many people around me
whisk through life with what seemed to be such ease and grace. They knew what
they wanted out of life, they chased their dreams, and often times it seemed
like everything just worked out.
As I am sitting here now, less than three months away from
graduating college, I can’t help but laugh at my youthful perspective. While I absolutely
support pursuing dreams and believe that hard work pays off, I have learned
that there are other factors involved in shaping one’s future. Life isn’t quite
as simple as a checklist of acquiring skills, dreams, and accolades. Rather, there
is a significant amount of personal growth that has to take place to get to
these points. Furthermore, there may be detours along the way that postpone
reaching these goals. And, perhaps the most difficult to come to terms with, is
that personal dreams may not always align with God’s perfect plan.
If someone was to ask me in my childhood where I thought I would
be in life in my early twenties, I’m positive I would not have answered
anything along the lines of where I actually am today. While I have had to grow
and learn some things the hard way, have faced obstacles to attaining goals,
and have even been completely re-routed to a different path than I had planned,
I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have it any other way. My five-year-old self
would have told you I couldn’t wait to grow up and chase my dreams. As I have
grown older, however, I have realized that perhaps my dreams were not the
dreams I should have be chasing.
In Romans 8:28, Paul states, “And we know
that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
This verse is so reassuring to me. As it clearly depicts, I am
a child of God created with a purpose in mind. Beyond that, as a follower of
Him, God is working for my good. So
while I might have many great dreams that could blossom into something tangible
and remarkable, how much better would it be if I sought to attain the goals and
purpose that God set out for my life before I even came into existence? How much
better could I be if I embraced the things God has challenged me to pursue?
As I am entering a transitional phase of life and certainly
still possess many dreams and goals, I am not suggesting the best idea is to
throw these hopes out the window. Rather, I am choosing today to yield my
dreams to God. I am choosing to place His will above my own, as His ways are
perfect and better than mine. I am choosing to embrace any challenges or
uncomfortable things that come about because I know that God is working for my
good.
If you are feeling uncertain, disappointed, or even cynical
towards your future, I challenge you to adopt a new mindset. Don’t give up on
your dreams. Instead, give them to God. Ask God if your dreams are something
that He has planned for you. Embrace moments of growth and correction. If your
dreams turn out to be something that God does not have planned for your life,
be willing to aspire to His greater call. Whether you feel like it right now
or not, God has created you with a purpose. Beyond that, there is nothing He
desires more than for you to seek His will.
Until next time,
Tamara
