Getting Started
Raise your hand if you struggle with indecisiveness and the unknowns of the future... *** immediately raises both hands***…
If you’re anything like me, it is easy to overthink what God’s plan for your life might be or what you are “supposed” to be doing. Therefore, it is tempting for me to be avoidant of the future, which can sometimes result in checking out of the present as well. Yikes.
I don’t love that this is the case for me, but it can feel safer at times to just flat out not engage with the unknowns that seem overwhelming or scary. Not only do I keep myself from planning/praying about the next things in my life, but also, I get in my own way to the point of feeling paralyzed in the present.
In college, I really struggled with these questions: “What do I want to do with my life?” and “What do I want to be when I grow up?” I recognize it is a privilege to even struggle with choices and options, and I deeply want to steward my life well. Sometimes, it is just plain hard to sense what God is saying or leading me to.
Graduating college, I naively thought that eventually I would figure it all out. Whatever that means. However, after a few years of adulting, I am realizing that life will literally always come with unknowns, choices, next steps, and having to discern and trust God with knowing what to choose and when. I personally think it would be a lot easier if God always told me exactly what to do but that’s not how faith works most of the time.
In Colossians, Paul shares some words to a group of people a part of the early church. At this point in history, Jesus has been crucified, resurrected, walked among his followers, and ascended back to Heaven. Paul wants this group of believers to know the complete adequacy of Christ in the face of their culture and circumstances, and I think it will bring comfort in the struggle of indecisiveness and dealing with life’s unknowns.
Colossians 1:15-20
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Questions to Consider
- What all is attributed to “the Son” in these verses? Who is He? What roles does He hold?
- What themes or even images come to your mind when you read verses 15-18?
- Verse 16 - what does it mean that all things have been created through and for the Son? How do these verses expand your view of Jesus?
- In Christ, “all things are held together.” How does this begin to shift how you view your life, choices, and future?
- In Christ, we have been reconciled to God - the same God who created everything. How can this bring you peace in the details of your life experiences, and any next steps you might be currently trying to decide about?
Closing Reflection
This chunk of verses helps me to breathe deeply and relax. It grounds me in reality. The greatest reality is not the indecisiveness I am prone to experience, my fear of the future, or the struggle to understand God’s will. The greatest reality is the truth of who the Son is.
Ultimately, Jesus is sovereign, and I belong to Him. The supremacy and fullness of Christ directly relates to my struggle to know what to choose and do with my life because I humbly remember that the story is not about me. This is all God’s story, and it always has been - whether I am awake to that or not. By God’s grace, I have been created, chosen, and adopted into His story. My life is not all on me.
The weight of figuring out your life is not all on you. Thank God for that. It’s not about the perfect decisions like choosing the best internship or career post-grad or finding the perfect person to marry. Our decisions matter but in submission to the truth that we don’t belong to the world.
We have been reconciled to God. We get to daily take Jesus’ hand and walk with Him by faith into the unknowns of the future. Some days this brings deep joy amidst the unknowns. Some days I get frustrated and want to run ahead of God to know what my life is going to look like in 10 or 15 years. On those days, I remind my own heart that although I really love clarity and answers, I actually love Jesus more. He is enough for me today, and He will be enough for me tomorrow.
Besides, what Jesus has for me is better than what I would choose for myself. And if I really know Him to be a good Friend and Father, I know He is near to me in my fear of making decisions. I can trust Him to take care of me. You can trust Him to take care of you.
