When You Feel The Pressure
There comes a time in your schooling when you have to pick which college to go to. There is a lot that goes into it like keeping a good GPA, writing applications, getting scholarships, all while trying to figure out your interests. During the whole process you’ll notice there are many people with many questions such as: What school are you going to? What will your major be? When do you start school? Do you have a job in the area? It may feel like your parents, teachers, or family and friends are just adding to the pressure of the whole experience. If you are in another season outside of school, the questions you may be getting are: Are you dating anyone? When are you getting married? When are you having kids? When will you get a place to live or a house? What’s your job? In both scenarios, or seasons, a lot may seem unclear to you. Then, when you get asked those questions, anxiety wells up in you and you begin to question your decisions. I would say that school, and some parenting skills, are failing at preparing us for the big seasons in life. They teach us to try to get everything in order while our heads are spinning and we are nervous about making the right decisions. What we should really be taught is that the uncertainty is okay. God doesn’t ask us to have everything figured out and set in stone. He asks us to trust in Him and He will direct our steps.
Uncertainty is okay. God doesn’t ask us to have everything figured out and set in stone. He asks us to trust in Him and He will direct our steps.
Matthew 6:25-34 tells us all about what God says about being anxious and how He is in control. I would encourage you to take the time to read the whole section since it really can give you peace of mind. I want to focus particularly on verses 27-30, which explains a good perspective change to have when anxiety creeps in. The verses state, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” I love this section of verses because it is an everyday thing we witness, but we take it for granted. We mostly all see some type of flower, or just grass, or nature in general each day. Although, we overlook how God is the keeper of all of it. He waters and sustains all creation. Notice the verse states how the flowers and grass grow, but are cut or die another day and yet He still tends to it!
So, what good can come from worrying?
Worrying tends to get you fixated on what could happen when you should be moving forward, with God, to see what will happen. If He takes care of His creation (nature) so intentionally, how much more will He take care of you and your life as His creation and child. Genesis 1:27 tells us how “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” We are made in HIS image, therefore, you and your life are so much more valuable to Him!
Instead of just accepting the pressure that life may bring, I think it is good to go into each season knowing that you don’t have to explain your life and the way you live it to anyone. Your answer can solely be that you don’t even know the answers and that you are solely following God each step of the way. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” As long as you move forward with the Lord you are covered. Even when you feel like you fail, you fail forward because with God there is always progress. It is so important to remember that He sees the bigger picture. He knows what has to occur and what it produces in you and your life. That is why we cannot lean on our own understanding, because we know very little and cannot fully figure things out to save our lives! I mean that is what I have done in order to start this organization. There were a lot of questions I did not have any answers for, myself, never mind when others asked me them. All I knew was that this ministry/leadership is what God put on my heart, and in front of me to do, so He will work it out the way it’s supposed to. I rely on Him everyday to guide me in the words to say and write. All He wants is your “yes” which says that you obey, and trust, in Him and His will for your life.
Often times, He will take away what you focus on and change it to Who you focus on.
Never forget you are made to depend on Jesus. The beginning of verse 28 in Acts chapter 17 tells us that “‘in him we live and move and have our being’…” We can do nothing apart from God. Praise God that He doesn’t expect us to do something before He does His part! He is always right there to save, guide, and comfort you. So, when you feel like you just keep getting asked the same questions that you keep giving the same anxiety filled answers to, remind yourself that God knows all the answers, you just need to follow Him.
