As we come out of this past school year, we walk away having received meaningful lessons. Maybe not as many in the classroom as usual, but more so in learning how to respond to the unexpected, how to overcome adversity, reminders of what matters and perspective that will prove to be invaluable throughout life.
For any recent graduate embracing a new chapter of life, we would offer 3 crucial anchors that will tether you to strong foundation:
1. Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.
As you remember times in the classroom, on the field, at the lunch table, on the graduation stage, you think of friendships that will last a lifetime. Be grateful for them. Throughout the journey of life, you’ll have the opportunity to initiate new, meaningful relationships. Don’t be afraid of them. Often, God places specific people in our path when we need them most. Remain open to those relationships. Be brave enough to recognize when God is asking you to walk away from relationships. Have the courage to conduct self-audits and appropriately release the relationships that serve as a chain hindering obedience to God’s direction.
2. Be someone who sees truth and doesn’t just hear it.
There are always plenty of opinions. The enemy is the author of lies, the master of subtle deception. If we want to embody a life of truth and stand firmly on the convictions that come with it, then we must be willing to seek truth. Operating in someone else’s convictions will leave us constantly wandering. Because when the first storm hits those convictions, we’ll likely fall and struggle to find where we stand. When we doubt, let’s pursue the truth found in Scripture. Let’s lean on a pastor, a teacher or friend – someone who will guide us well. If there is a relationship strained, let’s ask the necessary questions and pursue truth.
3. Live a life of honor.
Countless sacrifices go into the opportunities we enjoy. The opportunity to be in the classroom, to be a part of activities and teams, to benefit from accountability in the pursuit of a solid education, to walk across the graduation stage. Scripture says, “Honor your father and your mother.” This direction doesn’t stand only when they deserve it, or when their opinions match ours. It means to choose a life of honor despite those circumstances. If we will stop to look around, we’ll see that we are surrounded by people who choose to invest and sacrifice on our behalf. Honor their investment. And if you choose to follow Jesus, as representatives of the Gospel, how do we live in honor of the One who made a way for everlasting life? We choose to. It’s easy to justify agendas and actions, but when a life of honor is chosen, it becomes something we get to do instead of something we have to do. Let’s put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and walk worthy of the calling placed on our lives.
