A PRAYER AND BLESSING FOR THE GRADUATES
It’s that time of year again—graduation season. Students are preparing to step into a new chapter in life. With diplomas in hand, they face the inevitable question: What’s next? Will it be more schooling, the start of a career, or perhaps the mission field?
For high schoolers, the future may feel uncertain. Some are moving out of state, facing the unknown with a mix of fear and excitement. College graduates may feel the pressure of job hunting, the weight of responsibilities, and the reality of independence setting in. Whether they are filled with anticipation or anxiety, or both, this is a major life transition.
As parents, mentors, and fellow believers, we stood up when these young people were baptized and promised to receive them in love, pray for them, help instruct them in the faith, and encourage and sustain them. Now, we return to those promises with renewed commitment, lifting them up in prayer as they move forward in their calling to build God's kingdom. The knowledge our youth received in Sunday School, GEMS, Cadets, Youth Group, and from Christian teachers moves from head knowledge to impacting their hearts as they go out on their own into the world. Our hope is that the Spirit moves in their lives in a big way and those seeds that were planted become something that changes them and helps them grow in their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The lectionary passage from Ephesians 1:15-23 is a wonderful prayer and blessing for them. Paul is addressing the church in Ephesus, but it is also applicable to the graduates in our church home.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
I love how this hope and prayer are not only for graduates, but these words apply to all of us. May we all be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God better, to spend time in His Word, to be transformed and grow in Christ, and to be more like Him as we all strive to fulfill God’s purpose.
We, like Paul, can pray that their hearts and ours are open to God's guidance as we follow His leading. When faced with loneliness, trials, sadness, and distance, may the foundation of God's word that was laid by our church family be something that holds them firm and shapes the way they live. May they be reminded of God's love, blessings, power, and strength that will get them through any challenges that arise. We are not alone on this journey, but have a church family that prays and cares and a faithful and powerful God who keeps his promises .
The praise song is called The Blessing. I hope you'll click, listen, sing along and think of the graduating students, and be blessed by it this week.