Congratulations Graduates: Now Read This!

Read This: ‘For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.’ (Jeremiah 29:11)

Think: To all the graduates out there, congratulations! This is an exciting time, and maybe even a little bit scary, as you transition into adulthood. There are a lot of big decisions ahead as you dive into adulthood, but every choice, big or small, is an opportunity to honor God with your life.

It’s easy to let our lives revolve around the big moments—final exams, SAT’s, choosing a college and career path, marriage, and so on. Those are big decisions and definitely worth our time and attention. But the temptation can be to define ourselves by our milestones—what we do instead of who we are—seeing ourselves as the world sees us instead of how God sees us.

So much of life is made up of the little decisions we make every day. The choices we don’t plan for are like God’s pop-quizzes. They show us our hearts—what we do well, where we’ve improved, and where we still need work. When we hit a bump on the road are we patient? Kind? Forgiving? Gracious? Are we reflecting the heart of God in our small choices as well as the big ones? It’s not just about achieving your goals, but where God takes you to get you there.

Coming home from a recent trip, I had by far the worst flying experience of my life. It seemed like everything bad that could happen did. My goal was just to get home and I could sense myself getting tunnel vision. It was tempting to say that’s the only thing that matters, but I would have been wrong. The person sitting next to me on the plane matters. The flight attendants and other travelers matter. My attitude matters. God cares about the journey as much as the destination.

Yes, dream big, plan big, live big, but know that your final grade isn’t based on that alone. Who you are in the little things is important too.

Ask: What is the last time God sent you a pop quiz? How do you think you did?

Pray: Spend time asking God to help you glorify him in your choices, big and small.