Anyone who knows me well knows I have a hard time making decisions—mainly because I'm afraid of making the wrong one. Take summer vacation plans for example.
My junior year of college, I had a couple of options. One was an internship. The other was a 10-week mission trip.
After careful consideration, I decided on the mission trip. I committed to going, but I never felt totally at peace about it.
That feeling of uncertainty gnawed at me until I sat down and seriously reconsidered both choices. I prayed, God, if you'll just make it clear, I'll do it, no matter which one it is. I think I wanted God to send me a postcard or an e-mail, but he didn't.
As time for the final decision drew closer, I still didn't feel confident about either option. That's when I came across a devotional about decision-making. While hiking a trail, the writer noticed a few unmarked paths. This puzzled him because he had been told all the trails would be clearly marked. Later on, he asked a park ranger about the mysterious paths. The ranger explained there was no need to mark them; they all led to the same destination.
The writer's point was that God doesn't always "mark" the path he wants us to take. Instead, he provides several that will eventually get us to the place where he wants us to be.
I ended up taking the internship that summer, but I still felt a little uneasy about my choice. I was afraid if I had made the wrong decision I'd miss out on something God wanted to teach me. It took half the summer for me to realize that God wasn't as concerned with my physical location as he was with the condition of my heart. He can teach me and use me wherever I am—as long as I am seeking him.
As you read articles like "How to Find the School That's Right for You," you'll notice the writers spend a lot of time discussing the college choice. And for good reason. The years you spend there will be a time of shaping and molding both for yourself and your future. But don't be afraid of making the wrong decision. God can use more than one college to make you who he wants you to be. The important thing is—no matter where you are—that you keep your eyes on him.
Amber and your friends @ Campus Life Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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