I Just Graduated College and the Economy Sucks...Awesome.

I don’t have one friend who graduated college in the last year or two who isn’t struggling financially right now. These are bright, driven, visionary people too, people who spent thousands to acquire a quality education and worked hard to achieve the grades they did, people who were told all their lives that if they applied themselves and were responsible, they could achieve anything.

Now, Starbucks won’t even hire them. There is a tremendous and overwhelming feeling of failure, regret, frustration, and hopelessness. Thoughts like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m worthless to society,” and “What were the past four years for?” penetrate the restless and weary minds of many.  People who enrolled in universities with the dream of educating future generations are seeing door after door closed in their face. Creative minds with media degrees in film and radio are being rejected by Bestbuys and Blockbusters.

So what should we do?

Do we move back home with our parents and slip into a state of apathy? Come to think of it, our little league trophy shrine and emo mix CD-R’s do miss us. And after all,  society seems to understand this notion.  There’s less shame in it now then there was in years past.

Do we flee to the mission field? Maybe 6 months in Brazil will make us feel better about ourselves. South American Starbucks have to brew way better coffee than US ones anyway.

Do we go back to school? Ah, college.. life was AWESOME then. No worries, less responsibilities… a cafeteria!  How hard would it be to take out a few more loans and just ride this recession wave out?

Here are some other ideas:

I was thinking of inserting some scripture here and then following it up with something like “See? God is just telling us to hang in there, keep on keeping on, it’s gonna be alright.” But honestly, that would have been forced. Obviously, our daily bread is Christ and His word and all of scripture is full of radical and relevant hope. Staying in God’s word, no matter how difficult it seems sometimes, is vital.

Another idea is to get involved in the local church. During this time where food is short, gas is expensive, and jobs are scarce, what if our age demographic chose to do something completely ridiculous and counter cultural like give ourselves away out of the little we have to offer? Serve at your local church and allow the church to invest in you as well. While money may be tight, there is something profoundly powerful and effective about the family of Christ sticking together and helping each other through rough times. It’s biblical.

Lastly, take a deep breath and step outside yourself for a moment. If you’re walking with Christ, thoughts like “I’m not good enough,” “I’m worthless to society,” and “What were the past four years for?” are classic torpedo launches from the enemy. Seriously, they have his name written all over them. Walk boldly in the confidence of Christ in you and everything that truth entails: the truth that He made you a creative, passionate, talented, and unique human being who possesses a sacred honor and dignity. You’re worth doesn’t come from what you do or what you accomplish but your adoption into the royal family of a matchless King. It doesn’t make sense in human society, I know, but it’s a truth worth hanging onto.

And by all means keep dreaming, creating, seeking, and listening. God is far from done here. Greater things have yet to come.