How do deal with uncertain times.
Today, a mentor a friend of mine, Mark McKinney shares some thoughts on dealing with uncertain times. I had the privilege and honor of working for Mark in my first job.
Life on earth truly is uncertain and things can change rather suddenly. While we know this is true we have a hard time mentally holding on to this truth. We want to believe things will remain the same and be somewhat predictable.
On March 9th my wife flew to Israel with a group of friends to tour the Holy Lands. She left with great anticipation to see first-hand the places where Jesus had lived and walked. During her first week she got to visit the sites around the Seas of Galilee. However, on March 16th her tour was shut down and she was quarantined to her hotel in Jerusalem. After several anxious days her group was able to fly to London on the 19th and back to America on the 20th. Needless to say, our family was greatly relieved to welcome her home.
One truly does not know what tomorrow will bring. While we all know this is the case, we tend to think that we are in control of our lives. We want to believe if we make certain “right” choices we will get certain good results. Yet this is not always the case.
Godly people are diagnosed with cancer. A small child can have a life-altering injury. Innocent people can fall victim to senseless crimes. The stock market can crash and greatly alter one’s financial plans for the future. While it’s wise to make good plans for each day and the future, we must do so with the constant awareness that only God knows the future.
As I look to God’s Word, I see that life on earth has always been uncertain and unpredictable. Noah spent a large part of his life building a huge boat on dry land, not knowing how it would one day be used. Abraham was called by God to leave his secure home and travel on an unknown journey. He became a stranger in a foreign country who lived in tents.
We see this same “uncertainty” in the New Testament. The apostles left their familiar lives and followed Jesus into the unknown. Can you imagine how confused and shook-up they were after Jesus’ death as they hid out in a room in Jerusalem? They were sure to wonder what the future held for them. Once the Church began it wasn’t long before serious opposition and persecution sprang up. As a result many Christians lost jobs and struggled to support their families. Through all generations God’s people have often faced uncertain times.
God’s Word speaks of this in James 4:13-16. “Now listen you who say, tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that”.
These are great words to take to heart as we deal with the COVID-19 virus. This virus has altered all of our plans. In spite of the fact that only a very small percentage of people will actually become ill with the virus, all of us have been impacted. As we move forward, many areas of our lives will be different – some forever changed. These changes can be quite troubling for us. I believe some will be tempted by Satan to be afraid and live each day in fear.
However, God wants us to look to Him in difficult times and find PEACE. Through our faith in Jesus Christ we can know that God will always hold us in His hands and take care of all our needs. We should rest our minds on the truth that He is bigger than this virus and is able and willing to provide for us in the future.
The COVID-19 virus has given all Christians the opportunity to show those around us that we will not live in fear and anxiety, but in peace and confidence knowing God will take care of us.
May we never forget that thru Christ our FUTURE is secure – in this life and in eternity.
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