Lord, guide me, lead me where I need to go

Young Faith Essay finalist

Taylor Wilkerson

My God, you know that I am so often frustrated. Because I am a teenager, many people look at me and assume that because I am young I have nothing worthwhile to contribute. They see my stress and anxiety as the typical annoying signs of a teenager who still needs to grow up, and they tell me at every turn that I can’t do this or that because I am somehow still too young.

Sometimes, Master, I begin to believe that what people think is true. Perhaps my youth makes it impossible for me to serve you as I am called to serve. Lord, how easy it would be for me to fall into apathy, to lean on my youth and use it as an excuse not to follow you as I should!

But then I read your words to the prophet Jeremiah and I realize that this is not the path you wish for me to take. Through your Word, you encourage me. I know that you do not see me as people see me. When you look at me, my God, I know that you do not see a teenager who still has far too much to learn. Instead, you see your child, whom you yourself created; you see a heart full of love and longing to do your will.

Even though you alone see all of my faults and failures, you know that with your grace I can fulfill your purpose. When I, like Jeremiah, protest that I am too young to serve you and answer your call in my life, or when, like Moses, I point out that I have too many defects to be able to do what you ask of me, you gently correct me, reminding me that with your help nothing is impossible. My Lord, your words to the prophet Jeremiah comfort my heart! As you promised Jeremiah, I know you will promise me; you will guide my every word and step. Because you must so lead me, my Master, I know that you must be my constant companion throughout my life, my friend who will never leave my side. Alone I can do nothing but fail again and again, but if you are with me I will be able to serve you faithfully.

For all of the comfort your words to Jeremiah offer me, though, they also challenge me. My faith is weak, my Lord, and your words call me to trust you and believe that you will be with me. If you chose to send me to call for reform in your Church or to work against societal norms, I would be hesitant and fearful. I know that you are faithful in spite of my weakness and doubts, and so these words force me to take that leap of faith in you. I am called to hand my life completely over to you, to recklessly place my entire being in your hands. This goes against everything society urges me to believe; the central importance of my own will and my independence are to be taken as mistaken ideas. Give me the strength and the faith to let go, my God, and to let you be the one who guides me.

My Lord, like Jeremiah, let me receive these words of yours with all of their comforts and challenges and take them wholly to heart. You do not promise your faithful that following you will be easy, but you do promise to be with us every step of the way, even when it feels as though everyone has turned away. Make me bold like the prophet Jeremiah, my God. Let me trust that you can accomplish your will in me in spite of my youth and ignorance. Let me be open to whatever you might be calling me to do.

Here I am, Lord! Send me.

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