The Problem with God’s Path

It’s that time of year when many young adults are leaving home for the first time.

The future is calling, and college is the obvious next step.

I feel bad they’ve been led to believe they must confidently declare what they will do for the rest of their lives. I feel worse for their future selves, many of whom will be trapped in a life they didn’t want but are unable to see a path to somewhere better.

College was formative for me, but the most valuable lessons came from outside the classroom. I now realize I didn’t need a degree for my current work. Few adults I know are still in their chosen field.

But this is not a treatise on the pros and cons of attending college.

It’s not even a message exclusive to any particular age group.

It’s an invitation to consider our desire for certainty.

Of course, none of us has any certainty about what our futures will look like, but we’ll take anything close, which is why we gladly embrace the illusion of control.

“I’m going to school for engineering” sounds focused and carries some semblance of certainty over what the future will look like. Except that I know many people who went to school for “engineering,” and each has vastly different lives.

Most folks want something secure, certain, and comfortable. So even though “going to school for whatever” doesn’t guarantee those things, it’s at least close enough to the on-ramp of the life they want.

“I’m going to school for business” is often code for “I want a safe and predictable path, certainty, stability. I want someone to tell me what to do, and so long as it comes with a mortgage, a nice home, decent benefits, and a few weeks of vacation.”

To them, I want to scream, “Don’t settle! You’re leaving so much on the table!”

The first thing I’d say to anyone who’s unsure of what they’re supposed to be when they grow up — no matter how old they are — is this: it’s ok. It really is.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

Frankly, it’s impossible to do and foolish to try.

Besides, the future God has for you is better than any you could imagine.

Letting our expectations imprison us prevents us from pivoting when life offers better opportunities.

People prefer certainty, even if it’s not truly certain. You might invest in a degree only to realize you’d hate it for the rest of your life. The company that hires you could fail, or a new boss could make your life a living hell.

Safety, stability, and a 401k are good, but God’s path offers more. It’s exciting, terrifying, surprising, interesting, confusing, simple, and hard — and best of all — the most fulfilling option on the table.

That’s it. That’s the only guarantee.

It may or may not include paid vacation.

But what does it look like? I don’t know.

That’s the problem with God’s path; it’s filled with uncertainty.

Not over whether everything will turn out ok in the end. Jesus’ own words assure us of that.

The uncertainty lies in the details. Even when God gives us a grand vision, He rarely gives us the turn-by-turn directions we’ve come to expect from our smartphones.

I’m not suggesting anyone should or shouldn’t go to college or prioritize any particular vocation.  The only thing I’m begging you to do is to get close to God and say yes to His plan for your life, even — especially? — if it takes an unexpected turn.

This takes time and requires listening, which requires plenty of silence.

Unfortunately, the problem with God’s path is that although I can say, “If you follow His plan for your life instead of the safe one, it’ll be way better,” I cannot give any details.

I can’t tell you exactly what it will look like, or what you’ll be doing.

Why?

Because it’s literally never been done before.

God’s path is one of one. There is no template. It’s not a photocopy. It’s tailor-made specifically for you, who is living in this particular time, in this particular place. It’s a mystery revealed by faith, one step at a time.

It’s not predictable, easy, comfortable, or particularly safe.

But.

If you want to feel fulfilled and experience true happiness, it’s the only sure thing.