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It is interesting how things can happen at what seems to be the most inopportune of times.  I had a personal reminder of this at a local bank ATM sometimes ago.  I use that particular drive through cash dispenser occasionally, and most of the time there are no other customers awaiting their turn.  But things were a little different on one of my visits to withdraw cash.

When I use the money dispensing machine, I drive up extremely close to make the keypad easy to reach.  That time I did my usual routine; I maneuvered the car so close to the brick wall that my wife got uncomfortable but there was plenty of room from my vantage point and the car never touched the building.  The only problem was, that time I dropped my card!  To add to my embarrassment, there was another car behind us waiting for their turn.  I was much too close to the wall to open my door and I did not want to move the car for fear of running over my card and damaging the magnetic strip.   As always, Gale came to the rescue without being asked and volunteered to get out and retrieve the dropped card.  With the people behind us patiently waiting and perhaps wondering if some kind of vandalism was in progress, she tried to get the card but I was so close to the brick wall that, although she is much smaller than I am, she almost got wedged in between.  With that failed attempt, after she squeezed herself free, I had no alternative but to drive forward so Gale could get that precious piece of plastic that was causing us so much misery at the moment.

After she picked up what I had dropped, there was no way I was about to make another attempt at getting out cash with the dear people behind us watching.  I quickly drove away, gave them time to use the ATM, and made another pass once they had cleared the scene.  That time I was successful.  I only hope a video of our mishap did not go viral for the whole world to see!

In the midst of this exciting season for graduates–from high school, college, and other institutions of education–I remind you, graduating class, that there will be moments ahead when things do not go as you hoped and expected.  In fact, there will be some times along the way when it will seem that everything that could possibly go wrong does.  You might even feel that way already because of how the current virus problem has put a damper on your plans to celebrate this joyous event in your life.  You have a right to feel some disappointment, but when things in life seem all messed up, remember this simple bit of wisdom:  Do not give up!!  Instead, trust God and keep pressing ahead.  He has good things in store as you submit your life and plans to Him.

There is no way humanly to prepare ahead of time for all the unexpected twists and curves that life throws at us.  And if we wait until we are sure that every detail of whatever we are pursuing has been taken into consideration and every potential problem has been resolved and all conditions are completely perfect, we will not do much in life.  Yet we must press on—it is an exercise of faith. None of us know the future or all the details of life, so it is crucial for us to continually trust God and remain willing to move forward, always allowing Him to be our guide even when we cannot see the path ahead with clarity.

So graduates, I urge you to press ahead in our world filled with uncertainties.  Yet, regardless of the uncertainties to be contended with, there is still much potential for you to tap in to.  Perhaps you want to keep this bit of Scripture in mind:  “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”  (Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version).