Next month, my twin sons begin their freshman years at college.

Like most parents, for me the previous nearly two decades have flown by. More memories than I can count. More events and conversations and celebrations and tears than I can remember.

But one early moment seems especially relevant. In the early weeks of parenthood, caring for twin babies seemed overwhelming. I don’t remember what I said that prompted her, but I vividly recall my wife saying something of great wisdom. “You don’t have to live 18 years in a day, Rob,” she gently remarked.

This is now something that, as a college professor, I tell students who come to me for counsel. I encourage them to bear in mind that they don’t have to live the next several decades in a week.

Like many young people, they are worried about their post-college employability. About their choice of majors. About specific courses. About what summer job or missions trip or internship to pursue. About where to live. And perhaps most of all, they fear not following God’s will for their lives.

So here is some counsel for young Christian men and women in the process of making important academic, professional and personal decisions.

1. Ask yourself, what do I enjoy doing?

I know of a young man who turned a childhood hobby — making yo-yos — into a profitable business. Make a list of your pastimes, interests, the things your mind runs to in idle moments. What makes your heart pump a bit faster, your eyes shine a bit brighter?

2. What are you good at?

Maybe you love baseball but can’t hit, field or throw. Maybe you’re fascinated by astronomy but have weak vision. And so on. Because you enjoy something doesn’t mean you can make a living practicing it.

Make a list of your strong suits, starting with those that are affirmed by people who know you and have observed you in various situations. It might surprise and encourage you to see how many things, from, perhaps, playing the piano to making a can engine hum, you can do well.

3. Bear in mind that what you enjoy and what you’re good at are not always the same. This means you’ll have to think creatively.

Because you’re good a something doesn’t mean you should pursue it as a career. Perhaps you are especially good at computers: You can trouble-shoot better than your university IT department. But you find working on computers stifling, even depressing.

Take the two lists suggested above and see where they intersect. Think creatively about how something you love and something you do well might be turned into a major or a career.

For example, perhaps you love history but the thought of teaching leaves you cold. How about going to work as a professional academic researcher? Or editor of a history magazine or journal?

Or maybe you love physics and have a fine mind for abstract thinking. But you also enjoy animation and the visual arts. How about putting them together and becoming a designer of science videos or editor of technical films?

Talk to wise and experienced people about how they have joined their passions with the need to earn adequate remuneration. It’s great to pursue one’s dreams. But if, ultimately, those dreams don’t result in a reasonable paycheck, they become nightmares.

4. Is there a discernable pattern to your life experiences?

As you reflect on things you’ve done, does there seem to be a course direction? Maybe you’ve grown up in a home where your mom is a science teacher and your dad an engineer. You’ve heard lots of grown-up conversations about advances in technology. You’ve visited more planetariums and science museums than you can count. Your first job was working as an intern for your dad’s company. And you just happen to love science.

Most people, when asked for counsel, are glad to give it. They want to see young people succeed.

Notice anything?

5. Talk to people in fields you find interesting and get their real-world insight.

Many friends who have thought of going into law choose not to when they learn what young attorneys usually must do. The drudgery and demands can be overwhelming, the powerful courtroom speeches more the stuff of movies than actual lawyering.

A piece of extra advice: Most people, when asked for counsel, are glad to give it. They want to see young people succeed. Don’t let someone’s age, title or prestige keep you from asking for 20 minutes of his or her time. And if they decline, move on. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

6. Realize there is no perfect vocation.

One’s work can be fulfilling, challenging, financially and emotionally rewarding, and a platform for ministry. But we live in a fallen world among fallen people. However great one’s job or profession, there will be pitfalls, disappointments and frustrations.

7. Talk with your parents.

Their perceptions might surprise you. And maybe annoy you — they may tell you things you don’t want to hear. Loving opera and not being able to carry a tune would be a tough combination for a would-be Met singer. Moms and dads actually do have good insight into their kids. Especially since they love them.

God’s road for you might be tough, but He will give you the grace you need to follow it.

8. Come before your Lord with a heart in full submission to Him.

Hold nothing back. Persist in earnest and honest prayer. God’s road for you might be tough, but He will give you the grace you need to follow it. And He will never leave you or forsake you as you follow Him.

You can’t be in full submission to Christ if you ignore the study of His Word. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It is health to our bones, living and powerful, slicing away self-deception and hardness of heart.

Remember that God will never lead you into anything contrary to His will as revealed to us in His Word. Nor will He honor the rationalization of greed, envy, pride or any other sin. Submission to and the honest seeking of His will are the interlocking pieces of any Christ-honoring appeal to God.

9. God loves you. As you seek Him, He will not withhold His guidance.

Sometimes He makes His path quite clear. He directs you into a single and undeniably obvious course of action. Perhaps more often, He provides just enough guidance that we can follow Him faithfully.

You might be at a point where you have two or more options. After prayer, counsel and weighing everything carefully, you’re still not sure what to do. Here’s a recommended prayer:

Lord Jesus, I’m not sure which course you want me to follow. I want to take Path 2 of the three in front of me. So, I’m going to go that direction — but if you don’t want me to, please stop me. I want to do Your will for Your glory. Thank you for what you will do.

God does not delight in letting His children down or seeing them stumble blindly. He is, as one recent hymn says, an “unfailing Father.”

10. You don’t have to live 40 years in a day, a week, a month or a year.

Follow Christ as He leads. As you do, you will find joy in knowing that a sovereign, gracious and purposeful Master has you in His hands.