Preparing for the unknown & being content

Hi everyone! It's been a minute, hasn't it? To be honest, this blog has kind of sat on the back burner as my life took a bit of a crazy turn. This summer is truly flying by. I've just now gotten some extra time on my hands to really sit down and devote some time to this. So, what I wanted to talk about today was being content in the season you are in. I've definitely touched on this before, but as always, I love to write about what I'm going through in my own life. Let's get into it!

Okay, so vulnerability time. In this season of life, I truthfully have not felt content. Some days are easier than others. And I find myself asking God a lot "Ok God, I did what you asked me to, now where's my future husband?" I find myself asking Him "Ok God, I'm staying in Tallahassee like you wanted me to this summer, and I'm not experiencing an internship elsewhere. Are the job opportunities even going to come after I graduate?" "Where should my next move be?" "What if no company offers me a post grad job?" "What if I struggle finding community where I move in the future?" You notice the common factor in all of these questions? They all have to do with the future, not the now. And I do believe there should be a healthy balance of things to think about in your future. We can't just live not even thinking a thought ahead. However, sometimes, at least in my life, I have found I let the thoughts of the future consume me. I think about the future more than I think about today. And that's unhealthy. But, look at our world! The world has tried to force us to think that way. When you're in high school, you're thinking about college and preparing for it. You take the SAT or the ACT and keep up your GPA. You do all the extracurriculars colleges like to see on your resume. Because if you don't think about it, you probably won't get into a good school. That's how our world is. College consumes your thoughts. It's all everyone talks about. Your family and friends constantly ask you what college you want to go to or what you want to major in. And when you get to college, then the questions turn to what you want to do after you graduate. Our world is centered around what is next. Now, here is what the Lord has put on my heart.

Prepare for the unknown. You're probably like huh? Allow me to explain. Because of the way our world is, we have to at least think about our future a little. But, here's the thing. Our future is unknown. We don't know what tomorrow is going to look like. I mean, we may know what our version of tomorrow will look like, but that doesn't equate to what God's version of tomorrow is. God sees the obstacles we will face down the road. We don't. So, in the seasons He has us in, He is preparing us for what is to come and we just have to trust in that. We have to trust that He will give us the next season when we are ready. It's like how we prepare for college. We take the tests, we go to our classes and get good grades, we do the extracurriculars, and we get the volunteer hours. We prepare, but we don't know what the future holds. In the moment when we submit the applications, we don't know which ones will come back as acceptances. But we do our best in preparing during that season. Now, we may be out of high school (or not depending on who is reading this), but we should carry that same drive of preparation in every season we are in, allowing God to mold and shape us into the people He has called us to be.

There is a difference between preparing for the future and obsessing over the future. When we obsess over the future, a lot of times that is because we are thinking about our own plans. We are thinking about the way we want our futures to go. Preparing for the future is being aware of the future and what it could bring, but acknowledging you don't know what is next, so all you can do is prepare and give it to the Lord. And one thing we can all do to prepare for the future, is making sure that God is sitting right where He belongs: the driver seat. And that can be such a hard thing to do, giving up that sense of control. But we were never meant to have that kind of control. It can be so stressful, in fact, trying to control things, right? Give it to God. He can see a whole lot better than us too. We can only see what's right in front of us, but He can see down the road forever and ever. He knows all the trials we will face. He knows everything. So, shouldn't we have the one who knows everything being the one who controls our lives? Doesn't that make the most sense actually? Prepare for the unknown. Don't obsess over it.

Now, how do we find contentment in the season we are in? A whole lot of prayer and time with God, shifting your heart posture and perspective on the situation (read my blog about this here!), really soaking in everything that this season has to offer (trying new things, making new friends, going on a fun trip, spending quality time with your family and friends, etc.), and practicing gratitude daily. I promise you, you have it a lot easier than someone else out there. And I know you may feel stuck sometimes because I feel that way too, but you have to remember the bigger picture. This season is going to only be a small chapter of our lives. It is temporary and you won't stay in it forever. God is not done with you yet. I also wanted to say that your feelings are valid. And we have a loving God who wants to hear your cries. It is totally okay to tell God your feelings. He wants to hear them and comfort you.

Thanks for reading this blog! I hope that this encourages you to really think about who is in the driver seat in your life and to not take this season of life for granted. It has definitely made me think about it as well. Yes, your life may not look how you want it to look right now, but you have to trust that God is going to place you where He wants you when He wants you. Prepare for the unknown. Use this time to grow closer to the Lord. That is part of the preparation. "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34) God's got you! There is peace in that. Again, thanks for reading this blog! As always, my dms are open on instagram @julespace05 if you want prayer, someone to talk to, or a topic idea! See ya next time!