An Open Letter

To the Grads: 

I just want to take a second and encourage you and also let you know how much I love you and truly do pray for you. My prayer is that you all would grow even deeper in the wisdom and understanding of Jesus, in the Light of His grace and His power.

Congratulations on a job well done! I know the past 4 years have seemingly flown by and now here you are about to enter into a whole new chapter of your life. I know how exciting it is - and also how scary it can feel at times. The thought of the unknown; new places, new people, new friendships...and new challenges. When you look back over the past 4 years you will see so much—proud moments of accomplishment, heart-wrenching times of hurt, memories you will cherish forever, people whose lives have impacted you, and people whose lives you have impacted. There's decisions you'll be proud of and some you'll wish you could go back and change. Through all the ups and downs, the good and the bad, an important thing to remember is to learn from it all. Glean the lesson out of every part, because even in the bad, always remember that God wastes nothing. He truly does work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).

As you move forward continue to seek His heart, He will never fail you. When your path seems to be unclear remember that He goes before you (Deut. 31:8). Even in the seasons of silence, trust His promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). Allow yourself to be open to His leading, even if you can’t see the end result- knowing that His plans are not for harm or destruction, but for a future and a hope (Jer 29:11). Hope that is seen is not hope (Rom. 8:24-25). There will be times where God will call you to go against all your logic, everything that seems to make sense in your own understanding. Remember, His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). Trust in Him with your whole heart, don’t lean on your own understanding or reasoning, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your path (note: He will direct your path, not give you every single detail about it). When we ackowlege Him in our circumstances, no matter what they may be, we allow Him the room to have His way in us. God is light and in Him there is no darkness, so when we ackowlege God we acknowledge Light (1 John 1:5). Light floods in the situation and all darkens must be expelled. This doesn’t always mean the situation we are in changes or the question that we are asking gets answered, but it means that the Light of God illuminates the habitation of our hearts, minds, and spirits, redirecting our focus on Him which allows us to better hear, see, and understand what His Spirit is saying. His Light brings His peace- peace which passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7).

In the midst of the new challenges you will face in the years ahead of you remember that Jesus is enough. So often we get stuck on all the little things that seem so big at the moment and we lose sight of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous Light (1 Peter 2:9). We get so focused on knowing where we’re going and how to get there that we forget that it isn’t about either one of those two things. God may lead us in a complete circle, it doesn’t matter. It isn’t about an end, but about the end, which is Christ (Rev. 21:6). He is the author and the finisher of your faith (Heb. 12:2). He knows the end from the beginning and the very reason for your breath is to know Him more, to walk in the Light of His countenance (Num. 6:26). Live in the Light, because it is only there that the heavenly vision can be obeyed uncompromisingly. No matter what goes on or what you face, don’t isolate yourself. And remember, no matter how old you get, God placed your parents as your parents for a reason. Seek their godly counsel and wisdom and heed their words in the days to come, even if they are not necessarily what you want to hear in the moment (Pro. 11:14). This can save you a lot of heartache in the long run. When there is something that needs changing remember that you have to get closer to it instead of running from it…no matter how much it may hurt. Sometimes it will seem that God is unjust and unfair. He is not. No matter what your head may be screaming and your heart may be feeling, we have a good God who is a good Father (Mat. 7:9-11). He gives us exactly what we need when we need it, and He takes other things away for our good and His glory. You may never understand the “why?” in things that you go through, and that’s ok. It’s never really about the “why”, but rather the “who”- and the “who” is Him. No matter what you go through, no matter what you face or the what decisions you make, it is only about Jesus Christ and His glory being revealed in and through every part of who you are. Even in your hurts, in your failings, in your regrets…God is going to use everything that seemed to try and shatter you to strengthen you beyond belief. We all acquire scars in this life, some self-inflicted and others that we have no control over. Don’t be ashamed of those scars (whatever they may be for you), because often it is the things we think could never bring God any glory that turn out to be the things that bring Him the most. The scars you have now and the scars you will get throughout the rest of your life will serve as one of your biggest assets that God will use to bring freedom, healing, and life in the lives of the people He brings in your path. Never try and hide them- they are apart of your testimony of the faithfulness of God in your life, which no one can ever take away from you. They are part of how we overcome, by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, loving not our lives even unto death (Rev. 12:11). All He requires of us is everything we have, because all that was required by His Son was everything He had. That’s all – just everything (Phil. 3:8).  You will be used by some people, judged and misunderstood by others. You will see the ugliness of human nature in your encounters, but remember that no matter – Christ still died for them. Never let the raw reality of the world make you cynical towards people, Christian or unchristian alike. Don’t let the disappointments you will face make you hard and judgmental. Let the Love of God continue to permeate every part of who you are, no matter the circumstance-no matter the person. Bear your cross knowing that He will not give you more that you can handle (1 Cor. 10:13), but also that He will require you to come to Him in order to bear it (Mat. 11:28). The further in Him you go, the more dependent on Him you must become. Wisdom is not found in the knowledge you have, but in the humility that you’ve gained. This life is never about what you know, but about who you know. It’s all about Jesus, only Jesus.

I look forward to seeing where God takes you. The things He can do in and through you are insurmountably more than you can even fathom now (1 Cor. 2:9). Stay open to His leading no matter the cost. Remember that you are not your own, you’ve been bought with a price so honor Him in everything you do (1 Cor. 6:20). Live and move and have your being in Him, no matter where you find yourself (Acts 17:28). God is faithful and His Word is true (Ps. 115:1). Stand firm in the good soil and may your roots go down even deeper, planted by the River of Life (Eph. 3:14-21). You are called up and called out for such a time as this in your generation (1 Peter 2:9). Don’t compromise. Be unafraid of the perception the world will have of you. Perfect love casts out all fear (1Jn 4:18). Do not seek the approval of men; you do not need their smiles, nor should you fear their frowns. Walk in the freedom made available from the Heavenly Father and look only to Him (Gal. 5:1).

And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized]. ~Philippians 1: 9-11

Go live the difference! For His glory!

~Lauren Jackson