In this months youth bible study we are going to have a think about the future and for all of those decisions which many of us are facing. For some, the end of the school year means decisions about the next: whether to stay on at college, go to university, take a gap year etc. For many of us the summer is a time to go away on holiday and have a rest – and often with that comes those familiar thoughts of ‘am I doing the right thing’ or ‘where is my life going’?
The funny thing about feeling like this is that it never stops. I am the wrong side of 25 and I can tell you that I still have thoughts about where life is headed and what decisions I need to take to get there. It’s a perfectly natural thing to do this – as human beings we know that we only get one shot at life and we want to make the best of it! So don’t worry if you are finding yourself in the midst of some ‘life’ decisions right now. It’s totally ok and there are stacks of people probably doing the same thing as you.
If you are a follower of Jesus then I am sure you have given consideration to what God is leading you to do. “Should I do this University course?”, “Should I do this gap year?”, “Should I get off my lazy butt and get a job?” – and in all of this “God what do you think I should do?”
First of all, the brilliant thing is that Jesus totally wants us to have the best life – check out John 10:10. “Life to the full” is what Jesus came to give us and when we give our lives to Him completely, that is what we are promised. Note that this may be different from the full life that the world may think you should have. The world says that life to the full will probably involve being filthy rich, being very good looking and going to lots of parties or something similar. Gods ways are not at all like ours – but His promise still stands. Life to the full, really is life in all its fullness and not some worldly cop-out that looks full, but probably isn’t.
The second thing is that I personally find it really difficult to hear God clearly about big life decisions. There have been times in my life where I have really wanted a big, booming voice to say “Go there”, but it never came. This may be different for you of course, and great if it is. For me I find that when I am facing big decisions God speaks to me through other people a lot – as often they are not being affected by their human emotions so much in the decision making process – which I find can get in the way of me hearing Gods voice. So if you are facing a big choice, make sure you chat it over with Godly people that you trust and take their advice seriously. The amazing thing is that when I look back over times when I really wanted Gods direction and thought I never heard it, I see Gods fingerprints all over it – and I wonder how I didn’t spot it at the time.
The final thing is a really simple one: Don’t worry. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 6 and His words are completely stunning. He basically tells us not to worry about our future because worrying achieves nothing. As such…
…do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is amazingisn’t it? Jesus is saying here that if you seek the Kingdom of God – i.e. we seek to see Gods will done in our lives and live in Jesus example, then our Father in heaven will take care of everything! What an awesome thing to know – that God has a plan for each of our lives.
This doesn’t mean that we just need to sit around and wait for it to all unfold around us. When humans were created in the Garden of Eden God gave us free will – meaning that even though God has a plan for us, it is up to us to choose to live it. I believe that if we set our minds on pleasing God and living the way He wants us to then He will direct us in the way to go.
I’ll finish with an awesome proverb:
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Let’s be people who acknowledge God in all things and be amazed at where He takes our lives.
