"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster." Jeremiah 29:11
You know I have read that verse over and over again, and honestly sometimes I read it not really paying attention to what God is telling me. How crazy and absolutely amazing is it to know that God knows everything that will happen to you. On top of that He knows, when it will happen too. God has a plan. A perfect plan, that completely glorifies Him, that fulfills His every promise. Sometimes I feel like I am just screwing that plan up because I let myself get in the way of so many things I feel God is trying to do with me. I am in that place right now. I am struggling with where I am suppose to be (college wise). In case you didn't know, my dream was to go to the University of Alabama. I had my mind set that if I got accepted, I was going. Well I did get accepted and my mind was made up. Well one morning God just completely got a hold of my attention and basically told me I wasn't suppose to go there. I was very confused. I didn't know where else I would go. That is the thing, my dreams were completely different from what God had planned for me. But the amazing thing about being a follower of Christ is that prayer is powerful. God will show you the way, you just have to be willing. So I ended up coming to Anderson University. I was so excited about the college experience and what God was going to do. I had this plan of meeting all these new friends and having memories that I will never forget. Don't get me wrong, the college experience has been great so far, I have met some amazing people and I have seen God move around the campus and in the people here. But for the past few weeks, well months now, I have had this uneasy feeling that this isn't where I am suppose to be. I have no clue to where I would go if I left Anderson, but I honestly cannot see myself finishing school here. I love Anderson though, it is an amazing school, with awesome professors and wonderful students. I just feel like I am limiting myself to what I feel I need to do, and what God is wanting to do with me.
Through the stress and uncertainty, I have peace and comfort because of the promise I read in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. While I wait for God to show me which way to go, I will serve Him and I will give Him my all. I have found that once you experience God's amazing Grace, and His sweet, tender mercy, and limitless forgiveness, there is no turning back. God has been so good to me, and He has given me more than I could ever ask for. I truly want to serve and glorify Him with my life, and I do not want to take that challenge lightly, because God deserves my all. He deserves every part of my life and my college life will not be excluded from that. So I ask that you pray for guidance in my life and for God to use me in ways that only He can.
I read earlier today in Acts 7 about Stephen. He delivered food to widows. Stephen didn't hold anything back in what he did. He was faithful in every situation. Being "full" is not measured by how long we live or how many awards we get. It is about being obedient and faithful to the Lord, and that is exactly what Stephen did. He was bold and completely "on board" with what God was doing through him. When God shows you your purpose on this earth, fullness is given when we are completely sold out to Christ and our purpose He has set before us.
I thought reading this passage is just another reminder that limiting my life to only what I can dream of is completely ridiculous. Why should there be a limit to my life? I serve a God full of wonder, and promise and true Hope. So in the new chapter of my life, I will not follow Christ half-way. Even though I am unsure of my future, my hope is in Christ. It is all or nothing and I am all in!
