Do You Promise
by Tracy Gordon
“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 hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11
Graduation season is here! Soon, many seniors will be walking across the stage and receiving the diplomas they have worked so hard to earn. But what about after graduation? What is next? I remember my own graduations and feeling such mixed emotions—being completely ecstatic about these exciting milestones and yet completely petrified because I didn’t know what was coming next. What did the future hold? When my children were graduating, I obviously had more life experiences under my belt and had grown more deeply in my faith. I knew they would be dealing with the same mixed bag of emotions I was at their age and wanted them to “walk by faith even when they cannot see” (2 Cor. 5:7).
God has a plan for us and it is more extravagant than we could even imagine. He knows each step we will take before we take it and what we will experience before we experience it. However, it would be nice if He could send us a heads-up about what is to come or even just a little sneak peek. But if we knew our story in advance, we would want to rewrite the script of our lives to what we wanted, which wouldn’t be in our best interest. God knows us better than anyone, and if we didn’t experience His path for us, we wouldn’t end up where He knows is best. We must walk by faith, and see where God leads us. That might even be to a new state, country, job position, etc. Whatever it is, know that God loves you and has your best interest at heart. He has made promises to you that He will forever keep. Some of these promises include:
His presence (“I will be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you.” –Deut. 31:8, Heb. 13:5);
His strength (“I will give you the strength you need.” –Isaiah 41:10);
His provision (“He who feeds the world, He who provides all my needs, He who is the shepherd of the flock, He who holds me in His arms.” –Phil. 4:19);
His peace (“You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast on you, because they trust in you.” –Isaiah 26:3);
His protection (“He will command His angels concerning you to guard you.” –Psalm 91:11);
His comfort (“Like a father comforts his children, so I will comfort you.” –Isaiah 66:13);
and the one our graduates definitely need to be reminded of,His promise of hope (“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 hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11).
These promises will help us live a life that matters, especially when we live with passion. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” I fully realize the ‘full life’ Jesus was talking about wasn’t about heart-pumping experiences like bungee jumping or hang gliding, but I do think it includes embracing the everyday awesomeness of our world, whatever that means to you.
We must also live with humility. Paul writes that even though Jesus was God’s very own son, Jesus made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant all the way to His death on a cross. We must put other’s interests before our own and take up for the weak and the outcast. In a world whose mantra is “me first,” we can never underestimate the impact that our humility can make on the world around us.
Lastly, live a life with purpose. If we are followers of Christ, our lives do not belong to us. There has been a great exchange made. Paul says in 2 Corinthians that we were “bought at a price.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “if anyone is in Christ you are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” We can’t walk around living the life of a dead person. Our old life, with all our selfish desires and trivial concerns is gone. Our new life is a life of meaning, a life of grace, a life of purpose. So let’s allow our lives be such a radiant light that people will see us and know we are different, and that difference will draw them to the Lord.
Lord Jesus, please bless all graduates over the next couple of months as they celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends. Please remind them that they are Your precious children, sons and daughters of the Most High King. Thank You that You have a perfect plan for each of them. We pray that they will stake their claim on the promises You have made to them. Thank You, Jesus, and it’s in Your name we pray, Amen.