Day 28: The Unknown Part 2

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

Today we continue our little chat from Day 24 about the unknowns in our life. Because we all know that life is full of uncertainties, and we need a way to deal with that.

Thanks Phillip for your comment. I feel like I've been through many of those exact unknowns before or am in the middle of them currently and have many more to come. But don't worry about the last one ;-) Whatever happens I'll never be totally out of reach (unless I die or something, let's hope this isn't the case).

Let's review. Get ready for an overload; here are some of the uncertainties that I am facing currently in my life, maybe you can relate:
- Career? I love so many things, it's hard to pick just one. Mathematics, Science, Literature, Technology, Theology, Psychology...
- Summer? I have free time on my hands, and I'm quick to waste it in between the plans I do have.
- Graduate School? I love education but should I continue it? What kind of degree? Where?
- Relationships? Should I be dating right now? When is a good time?
- Ministry? I feel called to do something more than just sit in an office and work a desk job for the rest of my life. What does this mean practically? Does this mean going into ministry or something else?
- Witness? What does it mean to live out the great commission as a college student about to graduate? Is my attempt to spread the love of God really what it should be?
- Free time? I have a lot of interests and a lot of things that I could be doing with my free time: writing, reading, hiking, playing video games, hanging out with friends... What is the best use of my time? How does being interesting in something like reading a book, hiking a trail, or playing a video game factor in to the kingdom of God?

Hopefully I didn't scare you off with all of that, but you I can assure you that I feel very, very uncertain about my future right now. All of my questions can get pretty insurmountable at times, especially when I try to tackle it all on my own. I am often paralyzed by indecision and uncertainty as I try to figure out where I should be going after graduating from college.

I desperately want to know what the future holds. I want to know which way to go so I can prepare for that, I want to know what God would have me do right now and I want to know so I don't make a mistake. But it seems God doesn't always let us know ahead of time what's up. Let's revisit one of my favorite verses.

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. (Romans 8:28, NIV)

It is times like these that I don't feel very much like God is working all things to my ultimate good, but I do love him, and I have been called... so he must be. Sometimes I wish I could tattoo this verse into my brain; the truth here is that powerful. Yes, I am always making mistakes, but God is still working out everything for my ultimate good. Perhaps one of the reasons he leaves me with so much uncertainty is so that I will learn to trust him. Even in the Bible, the stories are often stories of dramatic uncertainty and God comes through for his people in the end.

Whatever uncertainty we face, we are in God's hands, and that is a wonderful, comforting thought.

See you tomorrow