The Life I Thought I Would Begin Never Came...
Sometimes fear invades my life.
Goodness, 10 years ago I was getting ready to graduate high school and all I wanted to do was go to Mississippi State, pledge a sorority, major in education and meet my husband. I was accepted, I had a roommate, every thing was in place, I had it all planned out.
But then, life seemed to change its mind.
I ended up at Auburn, majoring in nursing, found a great roommate and a great college ministry. But I never really felt like I fit in. I never really felt like it was my life. Second semester, I switched my major to Human Development and Family Studies (the major I wanted and never knew existed) as God began calling my heart back.
This time of year, in the ministry that I am in surrounded by high school and college decisions, it is really easy to fall into the lies of “did I make the right choice?” Even 10 years later. When I look to my flesh. My college years looked so much different than I imagined. And I get excited for our seniors while also wondering the truth to tell them. What I know now is: I went to college looking for a life that was not mine. I was trying to live a life everyone else said I should. Not a bad life, just not the abundant life Christ came to give me.
For years, I had this thought that success would mean one day being asked back to be the graduation speaker at my high school. But it was not until this year I realized, I have been back to my high school more times than I thought I would. Not to speak at graduation, but to speak at FCA, to see girls play, cheer, celebrate with them what God is doing in their lives and to see them graduate. Not only my high school, but high schools around the state.
Though Auburn was not my dream and ended up not being my place at all, it was there God used to lead me to start Girl Talk. And though going back to Montgomery after one year was not my plan, it was there God used to strengthen me and establish Girl Talk Ministries. The dream now I could never imagine my life without.
At 18 years old as I looked ahead, I would have never told you this is what life would look like now. Many of us would not be able to. I would have easily told you, “Oh 10 years from now? I will have graduated from Mississippi State, married, kids, all of it!!” But today, though fear easily tries to compete and I still want those things, I know with full confidence I am walking with Jesus and He is continually giving me every thing I need right where I am every day to live this life with Him.
High school seniors — as you look ahead to your next 10 years, your next 4, your next year… stick with Jesus! You are not going to miss Him. In Jeremiah 29:12-13, He promises us when we search for Him with all of our heart we will find Him. He has never, not once let me down on this. Matthew 6:33, “Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteouness and all these things that we worry about will be provided for you.”
This is the truth for all of us!
What you will miss… all the things that were not for you. All the unnecessary heartache. You will miss what does not grow you closer to Him and Who He created you to be.
When you seek Jesus first with all your heart and His Righteouness in your life, you will never miss all the good He has for you and all He is preparing you to be. Not without struggle, but never without His Strength.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
To the girl in this picture, the life you think you are about to begin will never come. But the life that comes will be better than you could ever imagine.
“Now [ALL GLORY] to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask, think or imagine, according to His Power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20
