Looking back on my past two years of college, I realize that nothing (and I mean NOTHING) has gone according to my plan…

I came to college as a freshman with a straightforward plan that I was positive followed God’s call for my life. I knew exactly what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. I had plans to major in elementary education and then teach in Hawaii while planning mission trips. Then, I felt God leading me in a different direction. I wasn’t really 100% sure of what He wanted me to do, but I knew I wanted to follow Him. Now, I’ve changed my major 3 different times and my minor 4 times. Each time I changed my direction, I felt myself getting closer to what God has in mind for me–even though it was challenging for me to do so because it went against my personal plans.

See, in society today, we are told to have our lives planned out and know exactly what we want to do. When you apply for college or interview for a job, you are asked about your 5-year plan and your future ambitions. You are expected to be in control of your life and constantly know what it is you want to do. BUT, what we aren’t told is that God actually has a different plan for how our life will go. His plan involves a little more trust in Him and a little less planning on our end.

Luke 12:22-26 says,
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

God has a plan outlined for us, but that involves less worrying and planning on our part. The tough thing is, I’m a planner. I plan everything out from the big things like my 5-year plan, to the little things like my weekly meal plan. But what I’ve been learning lately is that God is in control, not me. In reality, I actually have very little control, but I’m learning to be okay with that. So, you may currently be in a position where you’re not entirely positive where your life is headed or what God’s plan is for you. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do in the future, or where you want to go to school, or what you want to major in. But that’s ok. Because as Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:7, “you don’t understand now what I’m doing, but someday you will.”

So have faith, trust in God’s plan, and know that you don’t always have to be in control.

-Taylor Richard