Project Rhi?

So, predictably, I've been doing a lot of Sociology reading this week. That's not a complaint or anything. I kind of feel that if there's one time you should be doing a lot of reading, it's third year, second semester. Forgive me, though, I'm going to share a bit of sociological goodness with you. My housemate and I were talking this morning about how everyone always pulls the same confused face when you utter the fact you're studying Sociology. If you're utterly confused by what the heck Sociology is, number one, sometimes I wonder this myself and number two, this is for you. Plus it'll help me explain what I've been thinking about over the last couple of weeks. Enjoy/bear with...

There's this argument in Sociology that loads of the big ways in which we define ourselves are declining. Like religion, politics, class identities etc. Instead, such writers think that, nowadays, we're all in a constant process of choosing who we are/defining ourselves. This is seen as the individual project of the self. Let's take the example of jobs (apologies if you're in third year and would rather poke yourself in the eye than think about life post uni...). Back in the day, if your Dad was an engineer, you'd be an engineer after school. Simple as. Nowadays, we get so much choice and we don't have to follow our parents. I for one am really glad about that. My Dad is a scientist and as much as I respect him and love his enthusiasm for what he does, we both know that that was never going to be my calling in life, Like ever. Anyway, few people would argue that expanded choice is a bad thing but some people would say that it is making us more anxious, more uncertain and more conscious of making the right decisions. These guys are called postmodernists and whilst their theory's not perfect, I kind of agree that this happens to some extent now.

Why am I telling you this?

Because, I think it holds some truth. And it's made me think more about identity. Recently, I've been feeling a bit uncertain about a load of stuff. I don't know if that's a third year thing but I've started thinking about jobs, dissertations etc and decisions I'm currently making seem a bit too filled with self doubt for my liking. Sure, my head knows exactly who is in charge (God!) but my heart/emotions are often playing catch up. Recently, I've been trying to silence the self doubt with stuff that's true. I can do this, because, contrary to the debatable belief of society that I should be constructing who I am, this isn't my job. The Bible says that:

Despite the fact that I mess up far more than I even imagine, I am loved, accepted and redeemed because of Jesus. That means that I don't have to keep trying to be good enough, make the right decisions or be 100% on top of everything all the time. I am fully loved, fully accepted - right here, right now - because of faith and grace, not what I do. 

He has plan for my life. Not bog standard, mediocre plans. Like really good ones. Plans that are way better than anything I could ever dream up. Even on my best day.

I don't have to navigate life being anxious, uncertain and self doubting. I can leave my worries with Him, knowing that He cares and is more than big enough to deal with them. What's more, I can ask Him for wisdom and guidance, knowing that He hears and responds.

When I think like that, it makes me feel a whole lot better.

Rhi x