Life After Graduation
Friday, Jan 22, 2010 09:41 AM
Sarah Lingbloom graduated from Christian Life College in 2009. Her major was Bible & Theology. Now almost one year later, Sarah reflects on her progress.
By Sarah Lingbloom
Having graduated from college and started out on this new chapter in my life, I find that I, like many others, are awakened to a fresh reality. This reality is brought about by the new season that we are thrust into, whether we choose to be or not.
It is not a bad reality. I suppose it's just called growing up. In this new season, one thing learned right away is that our dreams are not just handed to us. They now become a goal. They become something that we begin to venture toward with every choice we make, every hardship we endure, and every lesson we learn. We become like one of our childhood hero's in the Bible, Joseph.
Joseph's dreams never pertained to the present, only to the future. I'm sure he could have never imagined, nor would he have ever wanted to, the things that he would endure to reach the point in life where he could look back and see that God fulfilled his childhood dream. It was a daily trust in God that Joseph harbored, which gave God the liberty to completely lead his life. Many of us, if we were honest with ourselves, try to make sense of the path God is leading us down, because we don't trust him completely. It's our natural instinct to "understand," when God is only asking us to "Trust."
Having been the Senior Class president of our class of 2009, I could not have been more privileged to graduate with what I believe to be the most amazing group of world changers that have been unleashed into this world. Each of my classmates desire God, hunger after righteousness, and have always, and by God's grace will always, endure till Christ's return. I have spoken with many of them, several times since graduation, and not one of them has said life is what they expected it to be after graduation.
One of my classmates returned to Sweden upon graduation to work in her home church. She is soon to be married this coming summer and plans to return to the U.S. Another moved back to Los Angeles to help her father's church and is now leading worship and working with college ministry. My sister and I went overseas on A.I.M. to assist missionaries. My sister went to Amman, Jordan and taught Bible studies along with leading worship and Sunday school. I went to Uganda, Africa and taught Bible classes, preached in services, led the choir, and taught in a Christian grade school. Another of my classmates returned home to Japan, and is now doing the work of God permanently overseas. Four others returned to their families, are further attending college and God is faithfully using them in various ministries in their church.
After reading the above results from each of the graduates, you would think that all of their dreams are coming true. But in speaking with each of them, many can't even see their dream in sight. Why is that? Why do they feel so incomplete when they are obviously doing the work of God right now in their life? When Joseph was in prison he interpreted dreams, by doing so God gave him the favor of the Pharaoh. There was a seed that God had planted in him long ago, that could not die. Each step he took led him closer.
I believe that each person is created for a reason. That specific reason or purpose is ultimately obtained throughout the course of our life, but for some, God gives specific dreams or goals which in turn give us hope to keep going when life is at its worst. Maybe life after graduation is not as perfect as we in our innocence had imagined, but it can be as impacting, if not more impacting, on this world if we just endure with our hope placed in God.
I can say with confidence that many past graduates over the years have faced trials they would have never dreamed of, and endured heartache and pain. However, the Lord in all of his greatness and mercy has blessed each life that trusted him, beyond imagination.
This Kingdom that we are part of is greater then any kingdom this world has ever known. We are truly blessed to be called and chosen by the King himself to not only be heirs in eternity but vessels of servant-hood and honor here on this earth. I pray that not one dream that was given by God Himself would die in our lives. If God gave it to you, you can do it. All it takes is faith and perseverance. Nothing is worth achieving if it comes without a price.
