Graduating from college is a huge achievement. I remember my sister and I graduating the same year and having nothing but hopes and dreams for the future. The diploma we had in our hands guaranteed us a chance to make a difference in the world. We were the first of our family to graduate with a four-year degree, and it made us feel accomplished. However, similar to many people, we have faced job issues after college, and this is something all graduates need to be aware of.
Even though we took our classes, did well, and learned the course curriculum, sometimes our college degrees do not secure us a career. Careers center around connections, and it can be hard to get a job right out of college if you don't have the right connections. This is why so many college graduates are struggling at present. It is not because they opted out of college; rather, the college they attended didn't help them connect with a job after graduation.
Graduates should not be discouraged by this information but be inspired to pray. God can do amazing things if we just allow Him to work. As Jesus Himself says, "Nothing is impossible for God" (Luke 1:37, Common English Bible). As graduates begin to navigate the world post-college, they need to take time to pray to the Lord and listen to His reply in His Word. This will help them cultivate a stronger relationship with God and have more confidence for the future.
1. A Prayer for a Steady Career in the Field You Studied
1. A Prayer for a Steady Career in the Field You Studied
As I mentioned, it can be extremely difficult to land a career right after college, especially in the field you got your degree in and this can be discouraging. It discouraged me for a long time and in a way, set me up for failure. While I hoped my college would hire me after graduation, my college underwent a few radical changes, including firing every professor I had as well as moving the college away from being a Christian university. Once my former college did this, I realized they were not going to be much help to me in my career.
Hopefully, most graduates will have a supportive alumni program and many good connections. However, if you do not, don't lose hope. Choose to trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Our own understanding will spiral into worst-case scenarios, but if we trust in the Lord, our hope will be renewed (Isaiah 40:31). Regardless of what your career prospects are right now, go to the Lord in prayer today and ask for a steady career in a field you studied. It might take some time, but God is faithful.
"Dear Jesus, please help me to obtain a steady career in a field I studied. I don't want to go into a career that has nothing to do with the reason I went to college in the first place. I want to have a long-lasting career in service to You. Please help me to obtain this. I trust in You, Lord, and I'm handing you all my worries. I thank You, Lord. Amen."
2. A Prayer to Not Lose Heart
2. A Prayer to Not Lose Heart
The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
As Paul states, we don't need to lose heart despite our circumstances.
After graduating from college, it can feel like we have no idea what to do with the rest of our lives. It feels like we are entering adulthood for the first time, and sometimes, we just want to stay with our parents. When we get worried, scared, or overwhelmed, we need to remember Jesus and rely on Him. He is in control and will keep us safe (Proverbs 18:10). We don't need to become weary or lose heart because He is greater than all things.
"Dear Jesus, please help me not to lose heart. Life after college can be hard, but I know You are with me. Help me to fix my eyes on You rather than the worries of this world. The things I'm seeing now are temporary, but You are eternal. Thank You, Lord, for everything."
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3. A Prayer for Discernment When Times Are Rough
3. A Prayer for Discernment When Times Are Rough
Post-college, times can get rather difficult. Even though college is finally finished, your career and adulthood are just starting. With these new responsibilities, it can be overwhelming at times. Due to the stress and worry, we can sometimes make wrong decisions or apply for jobs we don't necessarily want, only to regret it later. This is why college graduates need to pray for discernment when times are hard. Don't allow desperation to make you apply for jobs that are not what you want to do in the long term.
If you cannot find any job in the field you entered immediately, look for internships or entry-level roles at various organizations where you would like to work long-term. Sometimes, managers and bosses will allow individuals to work up or consider current employees for higher roles when they become available. Pray over the matter and keep asking the Lord for His discernment, instruction, and wisdom. As the Apostle James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)
"Dear Jesus, I come to You today to ask for Your discernment. After college is over, everything can be very uncertain. I am uncomfortable with uncertainty. It can make me stressed, overwhelmed, and worried. I ask You to help me to practice wisdom and discernment in all things. Help me to go into the career You want me to and only apply for jobs I want to work at for a long time. Turn my mind away from desperation and help me to trust in You. Thank You, Jesus. In Your Name, I pray, Amen."
4. A Prayer to Honor God in Your Decisions
4. A Prayer to Honor God in Your Decisions
After we finish college, we will be faced with many decisions: our career, where we will live, how we will spend our money, whether we will get married, and how we will spend our time. Sadly, we can make many wrong decisions if we don't seek God's instructions. As believers, we need to honor God with our decision-making and not make the mistake of squandering our lives in unruly living.
The Parable of Prodigal Son talks about this in much detail (Luke 15:11-32). Rather than being irresponsible with our decisions, we need to seek wise advice from God and others. Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Since this is true, we need to consult God with our decisions as well as other trusted individuals in our lives. This could also be our parents, siblings, mentor, or past professors.
"Dear God, I want to honor You in my decisions. I don't want to be like the Prodigal Son and run far from You. I only want to follow You and glorify You with my life. Help me to be wise and knowledgeable rather than being pulled into a life of sin. This will be my first time away from college as well as my family, and I want to ensure I bring Your Name honor. Please help me to do this, God. I praise You, God. Amen."
5. A Prayer to Be Calm Amidst the Changes in Life
5. A Prayer to Be Calm Amidst the Changes in Life
Without a doubt, your life will change after you finish college. While many people like to hold on to their memories from college and connect with alumni, sometimes you will find you won't have time anymore. This is one of the many changes that will happen after college. You won't have as much time to hang out with your friends because of your career, adult responsibilities, or starting a mortgage on a house. You will stay the same person, but your life will change in many ways.
This can be scary because we all appreciate normalcy. We would rather do things out of habit than face something unexpected every day. However, we will have to make peace with this. Some days will not go as we expected. On a random Monday afternoon, you might meet the person you will marry at your new workplace, or on a Friday morning, you might receive a job offer for your dream job. Even though new things might happen and our lives will change, it doesn't always mean a change for the worse.
Change isn't always negative. It can be amazing and filled with joy. As long as this change is being orchestrated by God, we have no reason to fear. As believers, we can pray to Him and ask Him to help us be calm despite the changes in our life. The more we talk with Him and pour out hearts out to Him, the more we will see our relationship with Him will blossom. We will feel at peace and confident in our walk with Jesus.
"Dear Jesus, many changes will come after college, but thank You for showing me that they are not all bad. I have associated the word 'change' with something bad for far too long. Please help me to stay calm amidst the changes in my life. I ask You to be their author. I ask for good things that help me to follow You and encourage me in the life You have given me. I praise You and I thank You, Lord. Amen."
Originally published June 02, 2025.
