Class of 2007

It’s that time of year. Along with the return of the summer birds, vacation plans, garden planting, and spring cleaning, it’s graduation party season. In my neck of the woods, early summer is the time for open houses to celebrate high school graduations. Grad parties are such fun events, at least in my experience.

We have five parties to attend in the next week. I’m looking forward to all of them, but one is more exciting than most. My “little sister” Betsy is graduating on June 10. Congratulations, Betsy! You’re through with math for good, at least with me as a teacher.

I don’t have a long “sermon” to preach to this year’s graduates. I just want to share one thing that I’ve learned since my own graduation seven years ago.

Trust God.

It sounds easy. But in the years and months ahead, you will be tested. Your dreams won’t all come true. You will make mistakes and wonder what to do next. You’ll see your friends going directions you’d never dreamed they would, taking paths you never thought they’d follow. Your heart will ache over things outside your control. You’ll learn just how little you really know.

Trust God.

Things will change in your own family. Your parents will make mistakes, and you’ll wonder why they can’t see things your way. You’ll feel misunderstood. Your siblings will get jobs, leave home, get married. Things won’t be the same. Family members will get sick. Someone will die.

Trust God.

Your heart will become the last thing you can trust. You’ll like a guy – don’t smile, I know– and he won’t return your feelings. Or you’ll fall in love, only to see him marry someone else. The wrong guy will talk to your dad – the guy you only like as a brother in Christ. You’ll start a relationship with “the one” and break it off because he wasn’t the one after all.

Trust God.

Trust Him! He is worthy, and He has all of your life under control. Even when things don’t make sense, hold onto the promises of Scripture. I will never leave you. Be strong and of good courage. All things work together for good to them that love God.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

– by Jeannie Castleberry

8 Comments

  1. Trust God… what a great word of advice to someone who is graduating… like me! I absolutely love your style of writing. It is so personal, encouraging, and convicting. Thanks for the timely message. I love everything you ever write, because, after all, I am ~your sister Betsy

  2. Wish someone had given me this same advice when I graduated from high school and from college. Trust God, indeed!
    Akofa

  3. I, too, wish I had read that when I graduated! But even now it’s precious… Thank you, Jeannie!! Debbie

  4. Wow. This was excellent, Jeannie. I wish I had heard this when I graduated a couple years ago– but you know what, I’m not sure I would have understood it as well as I do now that I’ve been through a lot of that. Thanks for reminding me there are others who have experienced these things.

    On the path,
    Laura

  5. Thank you so much, Jeannie. Looking back to the day I graduated (can it be more than four years ago already?), I can say amen to what you wrote with all of my heart. Dreams don’t turn out how we think, but keep trusting. His way is perfect. Always.

  6. thank you so much for this post. this is just what i needed to hear, even though i’m just finished my junior year.
    encouragment to trust God is timeless.

    God bless you!

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