Life… A four letter word that holds so much unknown. Every day that we wake up we never know what is going to be thrown our way, yet we get up day after day, and face the beautiful uncertainty of this journey we call life.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and that God would never give us more than we can handle. Some days are easier than others to remember this, but on the most challenging days, that’s when we have to take a step back, take a deep breath, and try to remember that this too shall pass. When times get tough it’s easy to forget all of the good and positive that God brings into our life. On those days when doubt and uncertainty take over, it’s easy to get down and forgetful of all of the beautiful things life has to offer. When those days occur, because I can promise you they will, I can only hope that you try to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and remember some of the things that help me get through some of my darkest days.
1. Trust in God and His Greater Plan for You
Proverbs 3:5-6 states to, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Knowing that the Lord is walking by our side through the beautiful uncertainty of life, and that He always has His hand extended for us to hold onto no matter what the situation may be, brings such a sense of peace and calmness. Knowing that even when the storms of life are rough, that God’s plan for our lives is something bigger and better than any of our hearts and minds could ever imagine.
2. Stay True to Who You Are, and Stay Strong in Your Morals and Values
Life is full of choices, as well as people persuading our actions and decisions. Having the temptation of straying from our morals and values can happen easily when we let the wrong people into our lives. The Bible states, “Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). In a world of temptation that is always knocking on the door, do not conform. Stand tall with pride, and walk confidently in the beautiful uncertainty of life. Believe in yourself, in your values, and in your morals. Remember that there is only one “you” and God made you the special person that you are for a reason.
3. Listen to Your Heart
One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” My mom has always told me that my heart will never lead me in the wrong direction if I truly take the time to listen to what it is telling me. No matter how hard it may be to fully accept what our hearts are telling us, especially if it’s not what we're wanting to hear, we are saving ourselves from potential harm and hurt by guarding our heart above all else… And at the end of the day we will be able to confidently say that we listened to our hearts, through all of the beautiful uncertainty that life brings, and it has brought us to where we are today.
4. Always Follow Your Dreams
The beautiful uncertainty about life is that we have the choice to become whoever we desire to be. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” When we follow our heart and trust in the Lord’s plans, the sky is truly the limit. As individuals we should never stop striving to reach our dreams, or the full potential that God knows we have within us. Remember that dream profession you had as a child? I do! Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to be in the medical field and have wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives. Fast forward to today and my dream of becoming a nurse and making a difference in this world is coming true, and it’s all because I listened to my heart and never stopped following my dreams.
5. Never Forget Where You Came From
No matter where we come from, and no matter where we go in life, it’s important to remember where our roots come from because it has made us who we are today. The Bible reminds us to, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). We may end up a thousand miles away from where we grew up, or we may still call the place where we grew up as children home. Whichever category you may fall in, home will always be home, and it will always be a place where memories were created. And that is the beautiful uncertainty of life. We never know where life will take us, and we can never forget our roots, because it is all in God’s greater plan for the masterpiece He is making of our lives.
As we grow and change throughout this journey we call life, we learn that the world is always evolving, and that change can occur at any second of any day. If we trust in God, stay true to who we are and stay strong in our morals and values, listen to our hearts, follow our dreams, and never forget where we came from, we can conquer the world... No matter how beautifully uncertain it may be. Embrace the uncertainty in life, because some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later down the road… But that is all in God’s forever plan for our lives, and with God by our side, anything is possible.