A Hope and a Future

"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 a hope and a future."

That is a verse that every dreamer clings to. And nearly everyone I know around my age is a dreamer. We all want to know the plans God has for us, and when we can't see them or understand them, that verse is a precious comfort. We know that no matter what, He will do what is best for us. All we have to do is follow where He leads.

But that's a problem for me. How do I know where God is leading? What am I supposed to do with my life? I read His Word, and I listen to the council of those around me, but I still sometimes feel that I'm walking in a dark room with just an occasional glimpse a few feet ahead of me.

Entering my junior year, I'm beginning to be required to make decisions about my future. What do I want to major in? Where should I go to college? I have so many interests and passions that it becomes difficult to narrow it down to just one or two. With a heart for justice and a knack for computers, I could be very happy in computer-related criminal justice. I'm passionate about history, and the people of the past who shaped our present. I pour myself into music for hours every day, and I could have some hefty scholarships if I work hard this next year.

I'm a bit overwhelmed. Not only do I have to figure out what I'm going to do in the future, but I want to maintain a healthy relationship with my family. After seeing both my brothers go through a period of "teen angst" and sometimes feeling a little rebellious myself, I have to be in constant prayer to keep up a respectful, loving acquaintance with my parents and siblings. I don't want to become an angry, distant teen.

So Jeremiah 29:11 is extremely relevant right now. I just wish that knowledge of the "hope and a future" weren't so elusive.

Another promise I cling to is Isaiah 30:21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" I don't think God meant that we would be hearing an actual voice shouting, "Hey, you're going the wrong way! Turn around!" I think He meant more of a quiet, gentle urging. I think He meant He would speak through our circumstances and the people around us. Through His Word, His people, and His Spirit, He can lead us along the path we are supposed to walk down.

But even when we have someone telling us what to do and where to go, we don't always go there. One of two things can happen: Either God, who is with us in the "car" of life, tells us which way to turn, but we think that turning the other way looks much more pleasant. So we ignore Him and go our own way, just to find ruin and sadness at the end of the road. Or, we spend some time with God, get our directions, and run off and leave Him at home. But everybody knows that even the best directions can be misread. Without Him guiding us as we go along, we're much more likely to get lost. We need Him to be with us at every moment, directing us at every intersection. We can't get some direction, then leave Him behind.

So I would urge you to tune into what God is saying to you today. It may not be a momentous, life-changing decision, but it could very well impact you or somebody else. Listen to the advice of the godly people around you. Read God's Word and pray for direction to understand what He's trying to say to you through the Bible. And never forget the still, small voice that is God's gift to you. It will never leave you, though you can tune it out. Don't let that happen. Even if it feels like you can't see a foot in front of you, God still knows where you're going. Just trust Him to guide you around the dangers and to lead you into light. You don't have to see the whole picture at once; after all, what would be the mystery in that? Listen with all your heart to what God has to say. He has a hope and a future for you, and He doesn't want you to miss it.

To Be With You

I just sat here for about five minutes staring at that ominously blinking cursor. You know, the one that says, "You have nothing to say. Why are you sitting here?" without even making any noise.

I hate that cursor. And a lot of times, I hate it when I have nothing to say. But there are a few times that I think being at a loss for words is a good thing. When we close our mouths and open our hearts and just listen, that's when we learn. That's when we grow. That's when we're truly walking with God.

Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." This verse speaks to my heart in a different way every time I hear it. And this time, it whispers to me, I want to walk with you.

That's what God wants. He doesn't need our fancy prayers, or our large donations, or our high-and-mighty friends. He wants our hearts to be close to His. He wants to be with us! Can you imagine?? The God of the universe calls out to us, "I will quiet you with My love, I will rejoice over you with singing!"

This is a difficult concept for me to grasp. I was sitting in my church's balcony yesterday, looking down over all the people who were there to worship, and thinking, There's no way He could notice me among all of them. They're better than I am; they seek Him more faithfully; they love Him more fully; they serve Him more diligently. But He is the God who rules over all, and He can stop the world and just spend time with me. The hand that holds the world holds my hand, too!

All that is required of us along our walk is to humble ourselves. We simply need to lower our heads, so that He can lift them. We only need to acknowledge that He is greater, and we are lesser. He is our strength and our song. When we hunger and thirst after Him, He will fill us up!

Take a moment and let the cursor blink. Close your eyes and give your heart to your Heavenly Father who will never let you down or let you go. Because while He fills your heart with peace and joy, you're giving God the best present you can give.