The Millennial Generations’ Destiny Drive-Thru

I am a part of the Millennial Generation.

If you’re confused with who or what the Millennial Generation even is, The Millennial Generation aka Gen Y aka Gen Next aka Net Generation aka Echo Boomers aka We’re So Cool and Ambiguous We Need Five Different Generational Titles (I wonder why this is confusing?) was born somewhere between the mid-70′s or early 80′s (again depending on what scholar you read) all the way until 2000.

Millennials are typically categorized by being the dream-big, sky’s-the-limit, creative, driven, I-can-do-anything generation.

I like these attributes. I think it will propel us to make an important impact in this world.

But we are also proud members of the entitled, get-it-now, instant gratification, I-can’t-wait-ten-seconds, Nextflix, Ipad, ITunes, Facebook, streaming, instant-everything, give-it-to-me-NOW generation.

At 28 years old I realize how embedded I was (and still am) in the idea that the red carpet would precede all my steps. After college, I thought I’d just pull up to the Destiny Drive-Thru and place my order, “Yes, I’d like a medium fry, burger with no onions, chocolate shake, and the exact purpose and plans for the next sixty years of my life. Thanks.”

“What? Did you say that would take ten minutes? What kind of operation you guys running here?!!”

I felt entitled to so much, and expected so little time and struggle to get there.

So after college when the big wasn’t happening, I became depressed and confused. I became angry at God for apparently abandoning me, when I was completely ready and willing to do those big things.

Where was the Jeremiah 29:11 of the big plans God had promised me? I was supposed to be changing the world, so why was I doing accounting in a cubicle, serving coffee, selling insurance, (insert your job you never thought you would be doing here: ________).

PARADIGM SHIFT

But after years of frustration and feeling like somehow God had let me down, I understand now that God in his infinite grace did not allow the big to happen when I demanded it. If I would’ve received the glamorous, big life I dreamed of it would’ve been like putting a semi-truck on my shoulders. I would’ve been crushed.

Because the time, effort, struggle, frustration — these are not just punishments or failures. No, this is a part of the preparation. Just like an Olympic athlete puts in years of training to be ready when their time comes, so must I learn that without the hard work there will be no accomplishment. We can’t be strengthened if there is no resistance. The higher the obstacles, the bigger the party on the other side.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10).

Now looking back at these last couple years after college, how I wish I would have heeded these words. If I could have taken this to heart, really understood just this one piece of advice, the “meaningless” could’ve been wrought with such meaning.