At the church tonight, as I listened to three young people singing #FindUsFaithful, I was transported back to when I was 20. I remembered sitting in church on New Year’s Eve, hopeful and wondering what my future would hold. The memory stirred something deep within me, and I almost cried, realizing how much of my life I feel I’ve wasted. I’ve wasted so much time. I’ve let opportunities slip away, made mistakes, and taken paths I never imagined I would. This life I’m living now isn’t what I dreamed of; it’s not what I envisioned for myself at this age. There’s a deep sense of longing for the “what could have been,” and it’s hard not to feel the weight of regret. But even amid this reflection, I’ve always held on to the belief that everything happens for a reason. Life doesn’t always go as planned, but perhaps it’s unfolding exactly as it should. Every twist, turn, and detour has brought me to this moment, and maybe that’s where I need to be. We meet people for a purpose—each encounter is part of a greater plan. Sometimes, I wonder why we don’t meet certain people earlier when circumstances seemed perfect. But then I realized: that timing is everything. We meet people when we’re meant to, not when we think we should.

Tonight’s sermon felt like a message straight from God. It was about leaving the past behind, about letting go of regrets and not allowing them to hold us back. It was as if God was speaking directly to me, urging me to stop looking back and start looking forward to what He has in store. He reminded me that He has a plan for me—a plan filled with hope, love, and purpose. Though the journey hasn’t been what I expected, I’m choosing to trust that God knows better than I do. I’m learning to let go of the weight of the past, embrace the present, and look forward with faith to the beautiful future He has prepared for me.