As I write this post I’m preparing to graduate from college. I had four lovely years at a college where I met new friends, found a church that felt like home, and led a discipleship group of six great gals. I attended many memorable student events, played keyboard for campus chapel services, and tutored an amazing girl named Lexi. I used the word “community” way too much, sat in local coffee shops as I watched people interact, and discovered my favorite local restaurants. I enjoyed being at college. But now I must return to my actual home—in the brand-new territory called “adulthood”—and I’m not ready.
I’m Not Ready for Adulthood
Obviously, I have missed my family while I’ve been at college and am excited about getting to spend more time with them once I graduate. But after living the last four years of my life in a bubble—also known as college—I don’t know if I’m ready to step into adulthood. The rules in adulthood aren’t as clear as they are in college. I’m dreading the job hunt, church hunt, friend hunt, and guy hunt (or lack thereof, ahem).
I already miss college. I’m not ready to graduate.
But maybe I don’t have to feel ready. Maybe I don’t have to feel anything. Maybe I just have to do something. In fact, maybe we shouldn’t be so worried about feeling ready. Maybe we just need to do the next right thing.
Perhaps you’re thinking about something that you’re not ready for. Maybe you’re not ready to start a new job, go back to church, start a family, or begin a relationship. Maybe you’re not ready to talk to a certain person, move to a certain place, return to a certain ministry, take a certain class, or lead a certain group.
Maybe it’s time to rip off the Band-Aid—the Band-Aid that’s labeled with the words “You’re not ready. You can’t do this. You shouldn’t even bother.”
Actually, that’s not a Band-Aid; that’s Satan. He wants you to forget about God’s purpose and plan. He’d rather you stay in your little bubble for your whole life than explore the world outside your bubble. But God often works beyond our little bubbles.
Go. Stay. Try. Wait. Teach. Learn. Show. Watch. Do!
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21 NASB)
If God wills for us to do something, He’ll make a way for it to happen. Then we must choose to walk that way. He provides people for us to work with and opportunities for us to work in. That’s how we learn to obey Him—when we take those opportunities and work with those people.
Maybe we should spend less time wondering if we’re ready and more time wondering if we’re following where God leads. Don’t listen to Satan when he says that you can’t do it or that you’re not prepared. Listen to the One who says that He’ll prepare you for the challenges ahead. He’s making us ready.
This post is a throwback to a post I wrote in early 2018 as a college freshman. I modified it to make it more applicable to my current season of life. As a college senior who’s nearing graduation, I can look back at the last four years of my life and see how God was working. I was a nervous wreck about college, and now I’m a nervous wreck about adulthood. But God carried me through four difficult-but-totally-worthwhile years of college, and He’ll carry me through the upcoming transition period from college to adulthood. And whatever stage of life you’re in, He’ll carry you through, too.
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