I’m sitting at the breakfast bar in my parents’ kitchen. It’s 9:30pm and I’m knocking back coconut chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, courtesy of my mom and her practical love.
I’m thinking about a lot of things. Tomorrow I leave the Northwoods after a short stint home to begin: Year 4. I feel so funny about starting my last year at Bible College in the big city when three years ago, freshmen orientation was happening and I was scared to walk down the street by myself. In my head it’s only been about a week and maybe five minutes.
This summer, I completed an internship serving in suburbia with a local church’s women’s ministry. I have written a paper encapsulating my current philosophy of ministry to women, studied the Word immensely, took ownership of my retirement account, and upgraded my solo-highway-driving skills. I have struggled with anxieties, calling, future, and the transition into adulthood. I’ve prayed about much and thought seriously about writing more, beginning to gather ideas for that book I’d love to craft someday.
Studying the book of Matthew for the past few weeks, there’s a commonality that always seems to surface in Jesus’ teachings: expectations. The Jews thought they understood God’s plan regarding the Messiah and the kingdom. Of course he was going to come and bring a political reign; of course he was going to overthrow Rome. What nobody could’ve imagined, though, was a Savior of sins, a Savior who would die and be raised. A Savior who would make not one, but two appearances; an ushering in of the kingdom in our hearts before the kingdom was physically marked on soil.
Matthew demonstrates the wild reality that God’s plan for humanity was so much bigger than anyone ever dreamed. Our God not only operates on a large scale, but he is immanently, intricately a part of each of our lives.
Jesus, in speaking about worry, taught about this in Matthew 10:30,
“But even the hairs on your head are all numbered.”
God knows us, sees us, and has written out the pages just as he has authored this entire world’s destiny from beginning to end. Take heart, whatever journey you may be gearing up for, whether it’s Year 4 like me or something else. Transition is hard and full of emotion, but we can be confident that
A) the Lord has the future, and
B) it will probably defy your expectations.
If God’s plan and way are truly best for me, even when it becomes extremely trying, then please sign me up, for I want to travel on it! That’s the only way to find rest for our souls, anyway (Jer 6:16).
Will you see the next step and come along?
He is right here to guide us through.
