I’ll be honest, I’m not where I thought I would be at 27. And I know many people feel the same. It’s easy to feel like we’re falling behind–waiting on that right relationship, waiting on that right job, waiting on healing, waiting on prayers to be answered. And yes, at times it can feel very frustrating, asking, “Lord, why don’t you seem to be answering my prayers?”

I still don’t have the answer to those questions. I don’t know why God is keeping me here despite my best efforts–only He knows and sees the whole picture. But if He wanted me to be anywhere else right now, He’d make a way.

You are right where you’re meant to be right now. Don’t let the expectations of the world tell you otherwise.

How do we surrender and find peace and purpose right where we are? Here’s what God has been teaching me.

1. Recognize the Voice of the Enemy–and the Voice of God

Focusing on the negative, on what we don’t have or can’t control, doesn’t fix the problem–it only breeds anxiety, depression, and anger. And that’s not the voice of God. That’s the voice of the enemy.

It can be easy to wish for more than what we have, and to focus on what we lack or all the things that seem to be going wrong. But to focus on these things, is to believe the lie of the evil one–that age-old lie from the Garden of Eden:

That we can’t trust God.

That what He has already given us isn’t enough.

That He won’t provide.

That our life is all up to us.

God had provided them with all of these good things in the garden of Eden–and yet, because they couldn’t have that one fruit from that one tree, the devil told them that God was holding out on them. That what they had wasn’t enough. That they couldn’t trust Him. That they should take their life into their own hands.

It’s time we stop listening to the devil’s lies, and refocus our attention on the voice of God–the voice of patience, surrender, and peace.

“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

2. Surrender Control and Rely on His Grace

How do we learn to surrender and truly trust in God’s plan?

We must release our grip on our pride, on the need to always control and understand “why?” 

God does not ask us to understand His plan, though there are many times we wish we could. But then when would faith come in? When would perseverance, patience, and hope come in? If we could understand and control everything in our own lives–when would we rely on God? When would we get to see God’s supernatural grace work in us and through us?

Surrendering control of our lives is NOT easy (believe me, I struggle every day!). That is exactly why we need His grace. That’s why we need to pray to God every day for the faith, hope, patience, perseverance, humility, and healing that our hearts need in order to truly surrender. And that takes time, continually seeking God in prayer to develop a deeper relationship with Him, experience His love, and learn that He is truly trustworthy.

“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart”–we do not understand it ahead of time!–“what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

“Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11).

He is a good Father. He is a good husband. And He will provide. It may not be in our timing. It may not be in the way we were hoping. It might be a long, hard road at times–but it will be so, so worth it.

3. Seek Christ in Every Season (He is What Makes It Good)

Why is every season worthwhile?

Because every season, every state in life–whether married or single, employed or unemployed, sick or healthy, surrounded by friends or struggling to find community–every season of our lives is made good and beautiful and holy if (and only if) He is in it.

He is what makes marriage holy. He is what makes singleness holy. He is what gives redemptive meaning to our suffering, a purpose for our gifts and talents, comfort in our loneliness, and the capacity to truly love and serve those around us. He is what gives meaning to whatever vocation we are currently called to, and makes the greatest struggles of every vocation not only bearable, but beautifully redemptive.

So whether we are, by worldly standards, in the best or the worst season of our lives–Christ is calling us to a beautiful purpose.

“For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

4. Live the Vocation of the Moment

Christ never asked us to be prepared for all of the steps up ahead. He never promised to provide us with the graces necessary for years to come. He simply asks us to live the vocation of moment–and that He will give us the grace we need to handle each day.

In the Our Father, we ask God to “Give us this day our daily bread”–not the bread for the next week or month or year. And this also is what God was teaching the Israelites in the desert, when He provided them with manna from the heavens–He besought them to only take enough for the day. He was teaching them to trust that He would provide.

“So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself” (Matthew 6:31-33).

So, in a time of waiting–while it’s okay and even good to move towards the next season of our lives–let us not do so with impatience and anxiety, allowing it to steal our peace and purpose in our current season.

We do not need to rush into that next season or wait to truly live our lives until we’ve reached it. Let’s live out our vocation now–the vocation of this moment. Let’s make the most of the season we are in, focusing on the good God is offering us and calling us to today, no matter how seemingly simple or small, and remember His words:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

5. Walk the Narrow Road

He is a good Father, and He has a good plan; but that doesn’t mean the road will be easy. We often wish we could take the easy path–but there is no “easy path” in a fallen world, and certainly not if it is to be a meaningful one.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).

This is a hard teaching. But as Christians, we are called to walk the narrow road.

It can be exhausting, confusing, and even deeply painful at times. But when we walk with Him, we can always walk with purpose, no matter how narrow or rocky the road.

No, God does not tell us where each bend of the road is leading us–just that if we follow Him, He will lead us on the path of Life. And along the way, He will be with us and provide us with everything we will need for each day.

Yes, my Beloved walks with me! And isn’t that all that matters?

Sometimes we wish that we could hurry up the journey, hungering and thirsting to find that oasis or those juicy wildberries, and we rush ahead and end up getting lost or coming up against dead end after dead end…

But maybe that fruit out of our reach was protecting us from the poison we didn’t recognize.

Maybe that stone blocking the road was saving us from the rock slide up ahead.

Maybe that tree over the path was protecting us from a snake slithering in the grass on the other side.

And maybe that trickle of water just out of our reach would’ve stopped us from ever looking for more–and discovering the whole rushing river just a few bends up the path ahead.

Or maybe this is all simply teaching us patience, endurance, and that being here, right now, with Christ, is enough.

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

Reflection Questions

1. What good has God given me in my life now? How is He providing for me and working in my life?

For example, not only providing daily needs, but the blessings of friends, family, Church community, the sacraments, hobbies, skills, and time for prayer, reflection, enjoying the beauty of nature, or taking care of my health? 

2. How can I better appreciate and cultivate these blessings He has given me?

How can I connect more with those around me, take care of my health, allow time for rest and fun, and most importantly, make time and mental space for prayer and the Sacraments? How can I receive more of the love of Christ and allow Him to meet me in that hunger of my soul?

3. What can I do to live out my current vocation to holiness?

How can I serve those around me (family, friends, or local community) and help lead them closer to Christ? How can I better receive and be a messenger of Christ’s truth, beauty, and love?

May God bless you and keep you,

~ Beloved Dreamer