While growing up, I always imagined what my life would be like. What would I look like when I was older? What would I do? What career would I be going into? I had so many questions about my future self. I was a planner. I loved to organize and prepare for the future, so naturally I had a lot of plans for my life. I thought about what I wanted, and I thought about how I was going to obtain these goals of mine. I was a sixteen year old high schooler, and I knew exactly how my life was going to go.
I wanted to attend a college close to home. I was going to major in psychology. I didn’t even have a backup major because all I was interested in was psychology. I would eventually find a nice boy to date after being in college for a few years. I definitely didn’t want to date anyone my first year. I wasn’t going to have time for a relationship anyway, because I was going to join a bunch of clubs, and I would be an active member in all of them. I would maintain my 4.0 GPA. I had it all planned out, and I left no room for changes. At least I thought I had it figured out.
Then life happened, and things changed. My plans were no longer relevant. I took a leap of faith and decided to move to a college hours away from home to major in criminal justice. I changed my mind last minute, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I started dating a guy I met in college my very first semester. He’s the love of my life and my best friend all in one. I only joined a couple of clubs, even though there are tons of options available to me. It turns out, I don’t have enough time to be a member of every club I like. I lost my 4.0 the second semester of freshman year. I thought it would be devastating, but it wasn’t. College is more than just grades and your GPA. Life is about more than just the plans you make.
Everything I was hoping for changed. My plans that I held on to for years changed drastically. Nothing happened the way I wanted it to. It did, however, happen the way God wanted it to. Sometimes we just have to take a step back, trust God, and let things happen. We don’t have to plan our whole lives, especially that far into the future. We can live in the moment, make decisions as we go, and just enjoy life. Even if you are a planner, don’t let your plans be set in stone. Allow room for alternative possibilities, and don’t be upset when things don’t go as you planned. Sometimes God has a different path planned for you than the one you have planned for yourself. God knew where I needed to be, and he lead me there. I trust that He will continue to guide me in all things throughout my life.
At times, it is scary not knowing what is going to happen every step of the way, but it’s also very liberating. Even though nothing went as I planned, I love where my life is at now. I just turned 19. I have no idea what my future holds, and I’m okay with that. 3 years ago I would have needed a step by step plan. Now, I’m trusting God and going wherever He leads me. God has a plan for me, and He has a plan for you. I take great comfort in knowing that God’s plan is far greater than anything I could have ever came up with on my own.
“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