I’m sure that at one time, you’ve sat down and really thought about what you want to do with your time on Earth. Maybe you’re going off to college soon, and seemingly every person you come in contact with asks you, “What do you want to do with your life?” Maybe you’re choosing between two jobs , moving into a new position, or starting a new career altogether! Wherever we are in life, we crave to be exactly where we are supposed to be and to know when it’s time to move onto the next season. We long to create a life and a legacy that we are proud of and that brings us joy along the way.

Conquering the plan for your life can feel scary. These thoughts and feelings can bring a lot of fear, anxiety, and panic as we try to strategically plan out exactly what we will do to end up where we want to be. And while making plans is important, how often do we stop and simply ask God what the next step in His plan is? How often do we close our planners and open our Bible to receive what He has to say? If you’re like me, all too often prayer and spending time in God’s Word is step two. Step one tends to be a sleepless night of “what if’s” and fears of the future circling around my mind.

It’s in those moments that I calm myself down and look to God’s Word. God promises that He has a plan for me. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11.

God also promises that nothing will stop His plan from coming into fruition. Job 42:2 says, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

With these truths, I can look towards the future with excitement and faith. I can find comfort in God when the fear sets in, knowing that He has a predestined vision for my life that I will not miss out on. I know that the things that God will use me for will be better than anything that I could have ever designed for myself. I know that I do not have to get caught up in the planning and strategizing of years down the road, because as I spend more time with the Lord, He reveals the next step that I need to take.

That is the truth for you as well.

God has a plan for you. God has a perfectly timed and beautiful design for your life, which He specifically and intricately designed for you and only you. God purposefully embedded the skills, people, resources, and challenges into you and your environment to grow this mission that He designed for you.

If you’re stressed and overwhelmed by the years ahead, fall into God’s arms and breathe in the security and peace that He has for you. He doesn’t promise that every step of the plan is easy, but He promises that it is beautiful and that He is always with you, no matter how scary it may feel.

If you are worried about conquering the plan for your life, the best thing you can do is surrender every step of the way and trust that God will lead you.

Mercy Multiplied is a free-of-charge residential counseling program that helps young women ages 13-32 break free from life-controlling issues and situations. Apply today or learn more by visiting MercyMultiplied.com.

Looking for more resources? Listen to this MercyTalk Podcast on Doing the Next Hard Thing and follow us on social media @MercyMultiplied