Talking with some recent college graduates, the conversation turned to “what’s next?”
One said he was hoping to get a job where his dad works so he could stay close to home. One wants a job that includes travel so she could go far away. Another graduate was applying for entry-level retail management positions across the state.
There was this one graduate though . . . her answer to the question “what’s next” both convicted and challenged me.
Her answer was she wasn’t sure about what was next. She’d applied to several missions organizations but admitted she really didn’t have a clue about the next chapter of her life.
Here’s what she did know . . . she’s committed to being open to where God wants her to be — whatever and wherever that may be.
This young 20-something year old schooled me with her simple, and yet so profound, outlook. It also reminded me of something Anne Graham Lotz shared in a recent interview:
The thing I’m most concerned about is that I don’t want to miss what God has for me. I don’t want to miss the assignment. If He puts something on my heart, I don’t want to miss it. I just don’t want to miss His whisper and what He has for me now.
What a great reminder not just for recent graduates but for all of us . . . because, as Anne notes, being mindful, focused and committed to His assignment doesn’t come automatically.
My heart’s aim all my adult life has been to be where God wanted me to be. I’m pursuing Him, not ministry, and I want to be where He is. So, if He puts me here, I’m just happy to be here. If He puts me back on the road, I’m happy to be back on the road. If He never puts me back on the road, I’m happy with that, too. Right now, I have absolute confidence this is where He wants me to be.
And what I’ve loved is that God will bring something to my mind, and without being on a schedule, I’ll write a blog or I’ll put something on Instagram. When you have time to be alone with the Lord, time to listen through the Scriptures, you hear things that you don’t hear when you’re busy.
(Read the entire interview here.)
Both of Anne’s radio programs, the 1:00 daily feature, “Daily Light for Daily Living” and her 30:00 weekly program, “Living in the Light” are great ways to encourage listeners to spend time in His Word and to not miss the assignment. Contact me at lee@ambaa.com to add either (or both!) programs to your line-up!
