Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 TPT)
So far this May, our family has celebrated the high school graduation of a niece, a nephew, and a cousin; the college graduations of two nephews; and the graduation ceremony for friends from our local homeschool community. This past Sunday, we also attended the first of two family weddings taking place this month.
Several of these celebrations have required long-distance travel, but the joy and importance of being present to celebrate these milestones with family and friends has made the effort well worth it.
Friday night as I observed our local homeschool parents giving diplomas to their graduates, I was reminded that events like this pull you out of the “weeds” of everyday life, and remind you to look at life from a bigger perspective. Yes, the children I taught in early elementary classes at our co-op have now graduated. But they have been nurtured, educated, and matured so that they can be functioning adults. Yes, these sweet faces I remember as playmates for my children are now heading off to college, work, or other adult pursuits. But their minds, hearts, and spirits have been guided and molded by their families, teachers, churches, and others in the community so that they can be men and women of integrity, honor, and people who seek God’s heart.
Graduation is one life milestone, but marriage is another. My son and daughter-in-love have been married almost two years now. Two precious couples we know and love will make the same commitment this month. And at the homeschool graduation, I saw another couple I know and love whose engagement shows their desire to live life in a marital covenant. In every generation men and women take vows that join their lives to each other, irrespective of cultural changes and socio-economic headwinds. Couples that have been married 50, 60, or 70 years or more will tell you that marriage is not easy, but that – with God’s help – it can be a joy and blessing.
So, today, let us pray for these graduates and young couples.
Jehovah,
You are the Creator and Sustainer of all the world. We give you praise and thanksgiving for the seasons of life you have instituted, including transitions from childhood to adulthood, and singleness to marriage. Today we come to you to intercede for graduates and young married couples. We ask that every one of them would know you as Lord and Savior, serve in your Kingdom, and seek first your wisdom, heart, and direction for their lives.
Give them physical provision, rich communities, and desires to live lives of purpose aligned with the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that when anger, hardship, and grief enter their lives, they would turn to you for healing, repentance, provision, and restoration. We ask that you turn their weeping into joy.
God of Hope, fill them to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as they trust in you. May the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround their lives with your super abundant grace, love, mercy, and joy. Bless, keep, protect, sustain, and guard them. Shine your face upon them with your favor, be gracious to them, surround them with your lovingkindness, lift your face upon them, and grant them the deep peace of a tranquil heart and life. We ask all this in the powerful name of Jesus, AMEN.
But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man (David) after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as leader and ruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the Lord commanded you. (1 Samuel 13:14 AMP)
Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! (Romans 15:13 TPT)
The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];
The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor],
And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];
The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],
And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life]. (Numbers 6:24-26 AMP)
I’ve learned that his anger lasts for a moment, but his loving favor lasts a lifetime! We may weep through the night, but at daybreak it will turn into shouts of ecstatic joy. (Psalm 30:5 TPT)
There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4 AMP)