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Overwhelmed. That's how I feel when I think about the future. It's not that I'm afraid of what lies ahead of me. In fact, I'm actually kind of overconfident about the future. See, I think that any second now I'm going to be discovered and become a movie star. Either that or a backup singer.

Even though I'd like to think I'm headed for great things, I get exhausted thinking about the future. It just seems so huge, so important. And as my life goes on, I'm starting to realize I need to make some actual plans about my life on the very slim chance that I don't become famous. That's the part that wears me out. I mean, how am I supposed to know what to do with my life? I meet all these people who have it all figured out, who know exactly what they want to be when they grow up. That's great, but for the life of me, I can't imagine how they can be so sure.

I used to feel like God gave everyone else in the world a map of their lives, while I was just left to figure things out for myself. I thought I was going to have to wander through life, fumbling my way toward what God wanted from me.

But you know what? I don't think that's the way it works at all. I don't think figuring out my future is God's little mind game—where he knows the right path, but he's going to make me struggle and stress to find it. Nope, I've started to realize that God has laid out my future plain as day. What is it? To follow him. Period.

And here's what that means about my future: As long as I am living for God and making choices that honor him, I'm going to be doing exactly what he wants me to do. That's not a mind game—that's living as a Christian. God doesn't want me to be a nervous wreck when it comes to making choices about the future. He just wants me to give my life to him and trust that he's in control. With his help, I can do that. And so can you. If you need help (and who doesn't), take a look at the article on page 36 to find out what the Bible has to say about making smart decisions about your future.

As you finish up the school year, I hope you'll remember that God doesn't have a hidden agenda when it comes to your life. He wants you to love him and live for him. And if you're doing that, well, the rest is going to fall into place just fine.

Carla and your friends @ Campus Life

1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail clmag@CampusLife.net

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