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It’s the common question that graduating high schoolers receive. “What are your plans after graduation?” I didn’t realize how stressful the question might be until my husband and I walked alongside our own teenagers through this season. One teen shared, “It feels like I’m supposed to know the exact thing that God is calling me to, but I still have no idea, and that feels like I’m failing somehow.”
For teens pursuing an academic route, there is the major decision of where to study, testing pressures and scores, tuition considerations, applications to particular programs and scholarships, all of which require time, effort, and a good deal of stress. But even this might seem ideal to the teen who feels directionless and uncertain about what’s next—learning a trade, pursuing a business opportunity or learning experiences, or beginning higher education, hoping to land on a degree program.
The pressure to make decisions in a short window of time can make us myopic, becoming so focused on the tree, as it were, that we forget to zoom out and consider the forest. For the Christian, post–high school decisions are important, but they are only part of the picture as we pursue our wider calling to know Christ and live all of life for Him.
If you zoom out, you’ll recognize that while we wrestle with what God wants us to do, the overarching emphasis is who God calls us to be. He gives specific direction: love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind and experience the overflow of that to our neighbor (Luke 10:27). This is our holistic goal and calling: to know and enjoy the love of Christ, gladly dedicating everything we have and are. If our plans are not serving this purpose, we should ask why. Here are a few considerations to help.
Do our plans recognize the importance of growth in our character, desires, and habits? Proverbs exhorts us in this season to self-discipline, obedience to God, courage, responsibility, forgiveness, integrity, diligence, humility, and generosity. He equips us for this in Christ and promises His Spirit to help; progress in Christlikeness is vital to our “next steps” no matter which direction we take.
Do our plans consider others? While many equate the value of learning with financial return, the Christian considers stewardship to be far more comprehensive and meaningful than dollars. We pursue an investment in knowledge and skill not only for personal gain, but to be better equipped for ongoing kingdom investment throughout life as we serve our family, our community, and the church. This is our joy.
And finally, as you make plans, rest in God’s sovereignty. The opportunities, giftings, and current circumstances you have do not limit Him. Without panic, we can offer what we have, whether it feels like a widow’s mite or a storehouse of gold, to Him in faith. Like Abram leaving Ur, we gain far more confidence and certainty in leaning on the Lord than our most carefully curated plans. If you’re uncertain but looking to the Lord, you are not failing to launch. You are being faithful (Prov. 3:5–6).