Dear Graduate,
I know there’s probably a million ways you could be feeling right now.
On one hand, you could be relieved that FINALLY the exams, late-night cramming, and endless assignments are DONE. If you already have a job lined up after graduation, you’re probably more than ready to start working in the field you’ve been studying for years (& to start getting paid for it).
On the other hand, you could be feeling unsure. Unsure if you chose the right job, graduated in the right field, what your next job will be, and what your future will look like. As a new graduate you’re emotions could range from excited, to anxious, to nervous, all the way to stressed. But there’s one emotion most people (including yourself) wouldn’t expect you to have. It’s the emotions you probably scoffed at when you read this post’s title, but I KNOW can really be yours. Peace.
When you think of the word Peace, in your mind you might naturally associate it with things in your life being calm. But that’s not the peace i’m talking about. The type of Peace i’m talking about is not one that you receive not because of your current circumstances but IN SPITE OF IT. It’s the peace that comes because you’re connected in relationship with the Lord of Peace himself, Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:16) .
That all being said, Faith/Trust does not come organically. It must be built up through our exposure to the word of God and what he’s promised (romans 10:17).
I wrote this piece to be a faith-building post. With 8 being the number of new beginnings in the bible, I wanted to provide you with 8 reasons (scripturally backed), of why in this season you can still have peace.
As you read upon each one, take note of the scriptures mentioned, and save it. Write it down somewhere.
And when the feelings of uncertainally come back, grab hold of them to remind yourself of the peace that is really yours.
You CAN have peace graduate. Here’s why:
1.God has already gone before you. (Psalm 37:23-24)
“23 The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. 24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24)
In our 20s, there can be SO MUCH pressure to want to figure out life. We want to make sure we’re making the right decisions (choosing the right job, the right friends, etc) and ultimately not jacking up our futures. We think It’s all dependent on us to get to the place we’re supposed to be. But the truth? That was never supposed be dependent on us. It’s already been predetermined by God. Before the days we were born, God already mapped out the start and finish of lives (Psalm 139:13-18), In Jeremeiah 1:5, God declares to the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart” and the same truth applies to us. This isn’t about making sure we obtain the best future for our lives but staying in connection and trusting in The One who has already mapped it out for us before time even began. Truth to be told, as you’re growing into this new phase of adulthood, you’re going to make mistakes. However, be encouraged. With every fall, you’ll learn its not the end. (psalm 23:4) Instead you’ll see that God will continue to lift you up and lead you to the place he’s always prepared for you.
2.God is with you. (Psalm 23:4)
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4)
In Psalms 23, David compares God to a Shepherd and himself to a Sheep. He mentions in v.4 that he’s walking through a valley of the shadow of death.
That means where David is currently walking looks like it’s going to kill him and that he won’t make it out. but then he says multiple things that are powerful.
First, he says its just a shadow. The formal definition of a shadow is “a dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light.” or a “partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body” that means that while the path that David is walking through might appear to cast a dark imposing image of the potential death, it’s not real. it’s just an empty intangible visual.
He then highlights the important truth, He does not need to fear. Why? Because God is with him.
As you’re entering this new phase of life have you considered that the ominopoent, omnipresent, all wise Gods with you? This is the same God that spoke to Moses and said “I AM. (Ex:3:14) ” Meaning there’s is no limitation to what God can be for us. Need a Deliverer? He’s there(Psalm 70:5). A Provider? You got it(Phil 4:19) A friend? You have One (John 15:15 ). Have you continued to view God as big in your eyes or have you made minimized him to the problems going on in your life?
I don’t know what you’re current valley of the shadow of death is. It could be the start of a new intimidating job, the reality of unemployment, or simply the uncertainty of your future, but no matter what it is, you have no need to fear. WHY? Because the Creator, Kings of Kings, and Lords of Lords is with you.
3.God Cares For You (1 Peter 5:6-7)
“6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
I don’t want you to think for a second that your emotions don’t have a place in this season. God has given us emotions. And it’s okay to admit you’re feeling the way you feel. But if the emotion is causing you to remain stuck in your mind and down in your thoughts all day long, you don’t have to stay there (2 Tim 1:7).
I love this scripture in 1 Peter,5:6-7 because before it tells you what to do with the things you are worrying about, you first have to admit that you care.
So lets admit it. what cares are you worrying about? What areas of your life or future are causing you to stress? I want you to pause for a second and be real with God. Write it down. Say it out loud. Put down the good Christian-girl or boy image and be real with Him.
If you don’t know where to begin, start here:
“God, thank you for allowing me to be real with you and not have to sugarcoat or downplay my feelings. I’m thankful that you are a Refuge (ps 46) I can come to when I need. If i’m honest, i’ve been feeling ___ about ____.”
Done? Great.
Now, let’s follow the next step.
“Cast your cares on him, for he cares for you ” (1 Peter 5:7)
What does it mean to cast your cares? Literally, it means to take all things you just admitted that you were stressing over and throw them onto God.
Sometimes we have to engage in symbolic action to signify what we are choosing to believe.
Some symbolic ways you can engage in casting your cares over to God is by:
a)taking a sheet of paper and writing down your worries. Then balling it up and throwing it away in the trash as a way to signify God and yourself that “Lord, I’m giving this to you”.
b) Picture yourself holding up all the things you’re worried about. Imagine you lifting them up in your hands, then after you feel it all, place your hands face down towards the ground to signify you turning them over to GOD. As you do so you can even say it out loud “God, i’m surrendering these areas over to you. Take control.”
c)Declare these scripture back over to God. Faith comes by hearing and the word of God (Romans 10:17). We have to declare to ourselves and the devil what we believe are standing on. Whenever you feel the worry start to come back over say “God i’m turning these areas over to you. You said in your word “ I can cast my cares over to you, so I cast this worry of ___ over to you because I know you got it and I know you care about me.”
The word works but we have to actually engage our faith for us to experience its power. Want to be delivered from your fears and worries? Cast them (literally) on to God and watch Him carry them for you.
4.God has called you (Romans 8:28)
“And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Now that you’ve graduated, you may feel a little weird and almost aimless. After all, you’ve just achieved the very thing you’ve been told to pursue throughout your whole adolescence. With the world now wide open- you may be asking yourself “well now what ? “ What should I be going after ? What’s my purpose?
I want to offer you some truth that may shock you but also (I hope) provide some relief. Your career is not your purpose. Let me repeat that again. your career is NOT your purpose.
Whaaat ? Trinity, I just busted my but for xxx + years and now you’re saying this is not the purpose of my life?
Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying but let me provide some context as to why.
When we consider Romans 8:28, it’s a scripture many believers like to point out a lot but we miss an important truth if we read too fast. It declares in the scripture “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
What does it mean to be called? “To be called out by God is to abandon the ways of the world to live out His purpose for our lives”. (Dr.Dana Carso)
God’s ultimate call to everyone on earth is first the call to salvation. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10). If you choose to embrace that call, that means we are now allowing God to set aside for his sacred use (1 peter 1:9)
Like I mentioned a few points ago, God had a plan for our lives the day we were born (Psalm 139:13-18). The plan he had for our lives weren’t according to the things we determined best for ourselves but according to the purpose He wanted for our lives.
The amazing thing about God is he did not leave us around to guess what that purpose is. He showed it through the sending of his Son Jesus Christ and through the very word of God.
I don’t know your current plans after graduation. You could have already been chosen for a new job, waiting to be chosen for a new job, or deciding not to be chosen at all (by doing your own thing). But nevertheless of your current job status, I want you to know: God has already chosen you (Eph 1:4).
To do what? To be a reflection of Him in all the places you go and the people you engage in your daily life. God wants you to let your light shine so that people may come to know Him through your witness. God wants you to be his hands, feet, and mouth. He wants people to come to know him through you. What an amazing privilege. And you want to know the beauty of it? You can fulfill that purpose anywhere you go. Your career is just your own personal choice and ONE avenue that can be used to fulfill that!
God never wanted your purpose to be reduced down to what you DO (teach, build, write, speak, consult, nurse, etc) but to what you BE (a reflection of Him, Gen 1:2, 1 Peter 2:9).
What you do can be taken away from you but who God makes you to be in Christ can never change.(Rom 11:29, Eph 2:10, 2 Cor 5:17)
Hold on to that truth and let that be the confidence and foundation in which you enter into whichever position or place you go to. You’re not looking for a purpose. You’re already on Purpose: reflecting the One who created you. He is going to make all things work together for your good.
5.God Loves you (Romans 8:37-39)
“37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
No matter how your current situation looks right now, I want you to know…NONE of that determines if God loves you.
Oftentimes we can look at our situations to determine how God feels about us.
However, the only place we should look to confirm How God thinks, moves, or feels is the word of God.
God’s love towards you is never rooted in your circumstances but ALWAYS the word of God.
In His word He says, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)”
In the letter Paul wrote to the Roman church, He said NOTHING, shall separate them from the Love of God.
Therefore if you find yourself in a current position you don’t like right now, take heart. This is not forever. This is just a part of the journey God is using to develop within you the character he wants. For bible even says that Scripture.. “because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”(Hebrews 12:6, James 1:2-4)
So then what is God’s goal for you? To become more like Christ. He’s using every situation in your life, every joy and heartache and trouble to make you more and more like his Son. That means no matter where you might find yourself after graduation, trust the process. God is growing you into the person He’s always destined you to be (1 john 3:2) His love will never you.
6.God is For You (Romans 8:31-32)
“ 31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?…” (Romans 8:31-32)
I will not lie to you. The time after graduation can be filled with a lot of rejection. Whether you’re experiencing rejection from jobs, personal opportunities, or friends and family who may not approve of your current career aspirations, always remember, GOD IS FOR YOU!!
No matter who or what comes against you, the Bible states, “Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world”(1 john 4:4)
Even if it feels like the right doors are closing and the wrong doors are opening, keep your trust in God. He is your provider. He’s going to provide your next open door that is right for you. He is in control. And nothing and no one will stop Him from giving you what He desires.
7.God thinks well of you (Jer 29:11)
“11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11)
What type of thoughts form when you consider your future? Are they thoughts of growth? abundance? or thoughts of failure, stagnation, and despair?
The state of your future is going to be determined largely by your attitude (prov 3:27).
The bible says that when God thinks about you, He’s not thinking evil thoughts!! It’s one of peace and hope. Therefore if our everlasting, all-wise, all-powerful God ( the one IN CONTROL of our future anyway) is thinking positive thoughts towards you, how much more should you?
“But, Trinity, you don’t know what my reality looks like right now. None of it resembles a future of peace and hope.”
Maybe so. But that’s when we’re called to remember
“not to look at the things which are seen but the things which are not seen. for the things which are seen are temporary but the things that are not seen are eternal (2 cor 4:18)..” It’s when our present reality looks dim that we can begin to press into our faith.” It’s the promises of God that we must see out of when we think about our future.
Need some to start with? Begin here:
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV): “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
- Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- Proverbs 16:3 (NIV): “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.
If you’ve been speaking lies and negativity over your future. It’s not too late to turn it around (Romans 12:1-2) All it takes is a choice (Acts 26:3a). Choose to start now.
8.God is lifting you up (Psalm 3:1-3)
“1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
2 Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.”
Selah
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield [a]for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.” (Psalm 3:1-3)
David wrote this psalm in the midst of fleeing from his son, Absalom, who started a rebellion against him (2 Samuel 15—18). In the psalm, he admits the opposition and words said against him.. (Psalm 3:1-2)
“But you are my shield and glory and the one who holds my righteous right hand.”
But then he does another thing. Something we might miss if we’re just flying through the text.
He writes “Selah”.
What does that mean ?
While containing many definitions, one of the most common one is to ‘Pause’.
Or as I like to quote in my First Lady’s words “Stop. Pause. Think About It.”
Since you’ve graduated, have you taken a moment to ‘Selah’?
What thoughts have you been focused on since entering this new season? Has it been thoughts of peace (Jer 29:11)? Or of negatvity? Has it been of negative words spoken against you? Perhaps even words you’ve spoken against yourself?
Nevertheless, no matter whatever or whoever has set itself against you, you can stand under the same words David spoke: “But you are my shield and glory and the one who holds my righteous right hand.”
If your mind has been consumed with negative lies spoken against you, always remember this: GOD is the one who lifts you up. He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies (Ps 23:4) He’s the one who deems you worthy of love not because of what you’ve done but just because of who He is. In the midst of the uncertainty, rejections, newness of life, He’s keeping, He’s holding you, & protecting you.
Therefore, when the lies start to overwhelm you or the rejections of others start to beat you down…. SELAH.
Stop. Pause. Think About It.
Be like David and remind yourself, “But you are my shield and glory and the one who holds my righteous right hand.”
There you have it. 8 reasons why peace can be yours in Christ Jesus. Your mind does NOT have to be a victim of your circumstances. Instead, because you’re connected to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, overwhelming victory is YOURS in Christ Jesus (1 cor 15:57). I pray as you meditate over these scriptures, your shoulders will start loosen, your breath will grow steady, & your mind remain in a place of overwhelming calm. Peace.
Stay calm, Graduate. For His peace is forever yours.
Trinity
