Author | Austin

[This is Austin’s faith story that he shared as part of the confirmation process he started back at Peace in Hurst, TX, continued at CrossPoint in Katy, TX and is culminating at St. Luke’s in Ann Arbor, MI.]

My family is on a journey. Recently my dad quit his job and we sold our house. Since then we have been moving around the country staying with friends and family. Not having my old friends around has made me feel sad and lonely. It can be easy to assume that my parents’ plan or even God’s plan does not take into account my own interests.

It can be easy to assume that my parents’ plan or even God’s plan does not take into account my own interests.

Jeremiah 29:11 has been a real comfort in this time. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We know that God is the one creating the plan and that He can be trusted. I know He can be trusted because I can see Him actively at work in my everyday life. A couple months ago I had a terrible headache. I prayed for God to help it go away; within 5 seconds my head stopped hurting. It is not always as instantaneous as that. Sometimes it is something small. Other times it is something big. That was a distinct way for God to show me that He is looking out for me.

A larger scale example is over the course of the past several years, I have moved a couple times. While on this journey, He has given me a greater sense of hope – a hope that even though leaving is hard, I can trust Him to bring new friends.

While on this journey, God has given me a greater sense of hope.

The biggest reason for trusting God is the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. With that sacrifice, He saved me from sin. Jesus has seen the worst parts of me in devotedly taking my sin and still loves me. I think that is a God worth trusting wholeheartedly.

Often we don’t like to take the back seat and let someone else make decisions for us. However, if we trust God with our plans, who we know is looking out for our well-being, we can be sure that the outcome will be hopeful – more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Read Jamie’s Letter to Austin on His Confirmation Day: A Mother’s Letter to Her Son