5 Tips: What Should I Do With My Life?

You may be asking yourself this question. I sure know I have been lately.

Lately I’ve been worrying a lot. Worrying about what I’m doing, what I’m achieving, who I’m impacting, what I will do in the future. Do you ever worry about this? Do you ever ask what should I do with my life?

I’m about to enter into my senior year of college, and I still don’t know the answer to that question. After seeking out a degree for the past three years, I’m still not sure how I’m going to use it. And lately, I’ve been stressing about it. I’ve been worried about it. I’ve been trying to figure out all these answers. I’ve allowed the world to have a say in who I am and what I should do.

One day last week I was driving home from work, and I just said, “Father, take me where you want me. I’m sorry I’ve been trying to figure everything out by myself. Help me to see things your way. Help me to bear good fruit and not try to produce it all on my own.”

After I finished praying, an image was placed on my heart.

I pictured a flower, okay. A flower. A really good looking one. Then I thought about what a flower needs: good soil, water, and sunlight. Then I thought about what would happen if a flower tried to survive on its own. Without the good soil as its foundation, without the water for nutrients and refreshment, and without the sunlight for energy.

The flower would wither. Just shrivel up and wither.

But then I thought about what the flower would be like if it got help from the soil, water, and sunlight. If it didn’t try to live and sustain itself on its own.

And guess what? It would thrive. It would thrive and grow and provide.

Just like plants, who are able to create their own food source, we are able to live life on our own terms, but without good soil, water, and sunlight, or the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it’s not guaranteed to be a good life.

Surrender control. Allow your Father to be that good soil, that firm foundation that grounds you. Allow the Son to shine down on you and refresh you. And lastly, allow the Holy Spirit to sprinkle your life with energy and refreshment.

Let go of the control to answer that question. Do these five things instead:

1. Talk to God.

Seriously. Tell Him about your struggles. Speak out your fears, your insecurities, your worries. Thank Him for the good. Be real about the bad. Talk to Him just like a best friend, because He is the greatest one you’ll ever have. Talk to Him any chance you can. The more you pour into Him, the more He will fill you up.

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

2. Dig into the Word.

Sometimes when I’m feeling discouraged, I’ll crawl into bed and open up my Bible to a random page. I always seem to find something that speaks to me. The Bible is the ultimate study guide. It has all the answers. Would you go into a huge test without studying? Would you rather feel prepared and confident? Study it, embrace it, live it, love it.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

3. Examine the gifts God has given you.

Reflect on the talents and gifts God has given you. Think on those things you have been blessed with. Watch out for ways to utilize those gifts, and don’t hesitate to do so.

Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

4. Don’t let the world tell you who you are.

The world will make you feel like a lot of things. It may make you feel like you are wonderful at times, like you are important and beautiful. But other times it will make you feel unworthy and incapable and not enough. Don’t root your identity in what the world says you are.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

5. Let go of the control and trust.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

I’m sure you’ve probably heard or read this verse many times. But I want you to reread it. Fully understand what that means. Do not lean on your own understanding. Trust with all you have.

So do I know the answer of what I should do with my life? No. But does God know the answer? Absolutely yes. So trust that. Believe that. Embrace that. Don’t be a withered flower trying to sustain itself on its own. Root yourself in good soil, accept the water, and embrace the sunlight.

Watch God make you bloom.