Kevin Manous's Story

The Master Architect

I had it all planned out. I was going to be a successful architect, wealthy enough to retire at age 35.

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I had it all planned out. I was going to be a successful architect, wealthy enough to retire at age 35. I believed in God, but as I entered college my focus was on making the best grades so that I could get the best job so that I could make the most money. I had every aspect of my life planned out and thought to myself, "Who could know better what I want in life than me?!"

So my freshman year began, and that drive and determination kicked in. I wanted people to tell me that I couldn't do it all, or that I would never make it - that just gave me fuel to work harder. I remember one particular incident when I worked extremely hard on an architecture project for my studio class. For four weeks, I focused all of my attention on making this project impressive. When the time came to present the projects, I began to compare mine to those around me. When I was honest with myself, I knew that quite a few of them had come up with better designs (yet they had not worked as long). My frustration was heightened when I got my first 'C'. I blamed it on the professor, saying that he was subjective.

It wasn't too long after that when I heard a speaker tell me I should give my plans for my life over to God. I ignored him and moved on. But when I heard the same message a few days later by a different speaker, I knew that God was trying to tell me something. I realized that He wanted me to turn over the rights to all of my life. I remember specifically telling Him that I was tired of the frustration and I wanted to let God take control of all of me.

Since then, I have found true freedom and joy in God. He tells me that He has a wonderful plan for me, a plan "to prosper [me] and not to harm [me]." I have discovered that there is no greater joy than focusing my life on Him and working to further His kingdom. I know now that my purpose in life is not to make lots of money or to acquire things (and thus find happiness in them), but to glorify Him by serving Him out of thankfulness and love. When I remember that my salvation lies in what Christ has already done for me, I am freed to live and serve him without frustration or discouragement.

- Kevin