As another school year ends, many inevitable changes are on the horizon as summer approaches. Graduations come and go, and that brings many questions about what the next chapter of your life will look like.

And while it is good to have a plan, it can be easy to get sucked into the planning and stress yourself out when things don’t go exactly right, or it takes longer to get a job out of college.

During these times, it is important to remember who has your life planned out. God has it all under control, and that should bring you peace when you think about the future. It’s all in God’s hands.

Summer looks different for many people. For some, it’s a time to get some much-needed rest after the stress of the countless deadlines and tests of the school year. While for others it’s jam-packed with summer classes, work and internships. Summer doesn’t always mean rest, so how do you make the most out of the summer by getting everything done while not stressing yourself out or burning out from the load of it?

God is the only answer you need. He will sustain you no matter how busy you get, but how do you make time for Him and stay constant in your relationship with Him over the summer? Here are some things that can help keep God at the center of your summer:

• Read your Bible and pray every morning: I used to think it didn’t matter that much whether I read my Bible in the morning or at night, but it does. When you start your day off with a conversation with God, you’re more likely to feel at peace with your circumstances and be in a good mood. It starts the day with your focus on the right things.
• Talk to God throughout the day: Don’t just pray in the morning during your Bible time. Talk to Him throughout your day. Just like your earthly father wants to hear from you throughout your day, God does too. Don’t just reach out when you need something. He wants to know everything about you, from how your day is going to things you’re excited or nervous about.
• Substitute secular music for worship music: I’m not saying you only have to listen to worship music the entire summer, though that would be beneficial. I’m saying just once a day, when you’re on the road somewhere, listen to worship music instead of secular music.
• Go to church: It can be easy to skip out on Sunday mornings when you’re on trips and out of town for the summer. But it is so important to continue learning and growing as a Christian. Many church services are recorded, so watch them if you are unable to make it to church. Being in community with other believers is one of the many things we are called to do as Christians.

As you begin to do these things, you’ll notice how it becomes easier to focus on God and trust His plans for you instead of stressing about the unknown. God has great plans for every single person, and it is important to trust Him and give your burdens to Him.

It’s so easy to become burdened with the prospect that things aren’t going as you’d planned, but when you give it to God, it doesn’t matter as much because you know He will provide a way. Whether it be a job after graduation, acceptance for an internship or something else.

I know from experience that when God shuts a door, there is another, much better one down the road that you aren’t aware of yet. So this summer, keep trusting that God has your best interests in mind and He will get you to where you need to be. Keep Him in your heart and your life as you navigate it.