Encouragement for Grads

Read This:

"The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'" Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

Watch This:

Think:

Graduation season is here! Cue the oversized caps, the endless slideshows, and the well-meaning but mildly terrifying question every grad hears a thousand times: "So, what’s next?"

If you're a graduate (or love one), you know this season is a mix of excitement, fear, and possibly a lot of carbs. You're closing a chapter. You might be leaving home. You might be facing decisions that feel way too big for someone who just finished finals and hasn't folded laundry in three weeks.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to have it all figured out. And God isn’t waiting for you to present a perfect five-year plan before He starts working in your life. He's already working. Right now.

1. God's Plan Isn't Always a Straight Line

Think of Joseph in the Old Testament. He had a big dream, literally. But before he stepped into leadership, he got sold by his brothers, thrown in prison, and forgottten. The probably wasn't on his vision board. But God's plan wasn't on pause. It was in motion.

Sometimes God leads us in what feels like circles or delays. Those aren't detours. They're development. Every step matters, even the confusing ones.

2. You Don't Have to Have It All Figured Out

Let go of the pressure to have a bulletproof answer to, "What are you doing with your life?" Your identity isn't in your job title, your major, or your Instagram bio. It’s in who God says you are: chosen, loved, called, equipped.

It’s okay if your next step isn’t flashy or impressive. Sometimes faithfulness looks like starting where you are, trusting God daily, and knowing He sees the full picture.

3. You're Not Alone

Jesus didn’t send the disciples out on their own after His resurrection. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. He knew they’d need a Helper, a Comforter, a Guide. So do you.

Whether you're stepping into college, the workforce, missions, or the great unknown, God goes with you. He’s not distant. He’s present. And He’s not just at the finish line, He’s in every step.

You’ve got this, grads. More importantly, God's got you.

Ask:

Am I trusting the Lord with my future, my cares, my fears, and my dreams as I step into this next season?

Pray:

God, thank You for the graduates in our lives. Thank You for their hard work, their unique calling, and the story You're writing through them. Give them peace when they feel pressure, direction when they feel lost, and community when they feel alone. Remind them that Your plan is good, even when it's unclear. Walk with them, lead them, and use them to shine Your light wherever they go. Amen.