Anticipating Graduation as God's Child

“There’s a verse that often gets used at Confirmation time, and appropriately so. It often gets used for graduations from Christian schools, and again, appropriately so. It’s from the prophet Jeremiah: ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ God says, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you.’ Sometimes I’m afraid we misunderstand that verse and think, ‘Well, what that means is that God is going to make my life easy, comfortable, and full of fun.’ No, that’s not what it means. I have to tell you that God is not primarily concerned with your earthly comfort. He’s primarily concerned with your eternal salvation. While He does not promise your life will be easy, He does promise that He will get you through every single one of those trials safe to your heavenly home, where He will wipe every tear from your eyes. Knowing that, that’s peace.”

Pastor Tom Westra spoke those words recently in an Easter season sermon. They speak a truth that is very important for those who are about to graduate from school and enter what may feel like a completely new world. Many young people will enter an atmosphere that is openly hostile to the truths they confessed on their Confirmation Day. They might get hit from all angles, from their professors who are clearly well-read, intelligent, and often very charming. From their fellow students who have developed world views far different from the lenses that the Bible gives us to see clearly. From the pressure to be in places and do things young Christians know are spiritually toxic for their souls. The road will not be easy, and that is why it is so very important for God’s young people to focus on the cross, the empty tomb, and the strength God gives each of us to follow Him.

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With these thoughts in mind, we hear from Sydney Rader, a high school student who will be graduating in two months and heading off to college:

What do you anticipate will be some struggles you will face during your freshman year? What’s your plan of attack?

I have found strong Christian friends in my public high school. Because college is a time of change and transition, I am no longer going to be surrounded by my support group and I will be in an unfamiliar place with all new people who may not believe the same things as me. While being in a large public school has definitely introduced me to confrontations with my faith— even in a large class discussion where the teacher didn’t agree with my views— Ohio State is going present me with many more. But that’s okay. I know that God is by my side through everything and even in a huge college I won’t be alone.

What would you like people to pray about on your behalf?

The world is a scary place. I ask that people would pray that I look to God in my times of hardship in this life, remembering that this earth is only temporary and so are the problems we experience. Sometimes when we are in pain it is easier to look the other way but I ask for the strength to go to God with everything and to never forget that my life is in his hands.

How will your Confirmation passage come in handy?

My confirmation passage is Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” I could give the same answer that I presented in my speech on the day I was Confirmed that God will protect me no matter what, and it’s still very true— but I know there is more to it than that. God is truly the rock that gives me strength in this dark world. The light that he has brought into my life regardless of the tough times I have faced and will face in the future guide my path to heaven and that is something I will always find reassurance in.