As a 23-year-old, I often find myself standing at the crossroads of “What’s next?” Life after college doesn’t come with a map, and I’ve felt the weight of questions we all face at some point—where am I going, what’s my purpose, and how do I even begin to figure it all out? It’s easy to get lost in that uncertainty. We’re constantly bombarded by the pressure to have it all together, whether it’s career plans, relationships, or just navigating adulthood in a world that seems to change every minute.
What’s next?
For a long time, I thought the only way to ease that anxiety was by finding control—by making plans, setting goals, trying to map out the future so that nothing felt unsure. But I’ve learned that sometimes, life isn’t about finding control at all. It’s about letting go.
And that’s where gratitude comes in.
There’s a kind of peace that can only be found when we stop focusing on what we don’t have and start appreciating what we do. I’m not saying that’s easy—because it’s not. Gratitude doesn’t magically solve uncertainty, but it does give us a different way of seeing it. When I find myself spiraling with questions like, “Where am I going to be in five years?” or “Am I on the right path?”, I’ve started to pause and instead ask, “What has God given me right now, in this moment?”
What has God given me right now, in this moment?
The answers are usually simple but profound. For me, it’s the late-night phone calls with my best friends, where they listen patiently as I vent out my worries, offering the kind of wisdom that calms me down. It’s the text messages from my older brother, who randomly sends me funny memes that make me laugh when I’m feeling overwhelmed, reminding me that there’s always room for a smile, even on hard days. It’s the quiet mornings when I sit outside with my cup of tea and reflect on the fact that, despite all the uncertainties, God continues to give me the gift of a new day—a new chance to learn, grow, and trust in Him a little more.
>One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” These words are a constant reminder that I don’t have to carry my worries alone. I can offer them up to God, and in doing so, I’m invited into a peace that goes beyond logic—a peace that comes from trusting in His plan, not mine.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Gratitude becomes a bridge to that trust. It doesn’t erase the unknowns, but it reframes them. Instead of focusing on what might happen tomorrow, it brings me back to the present—to the people, opportunities, and even challenges that God is using to shape me today.
