fearing the future

We are living in strange times. I never imagined that the world would be in such a state of lockdown, and I honestly don't understand what we're seeing. Things don't make sense, and it's easy to get lost in a state of fear and confusion. We don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, let alone how life is going to look in a month's time. There are so many unknowns that most of the time I don't even know where to start listing them.

Fear is a crazy thing. It's one of those feelings that starts a spiral--a little bit leads to more and more, and before you know it your mind is consumed with it. You start to lose sight of all the blessings and promises and get pulled down so far into the dark that you start thinking the light is gone for good.

Despite the unknowns in the world around us right now, all of this is known to God. He knows exactly how things are going to turn out, and He hasn't forgotten us or left us to fend for ourselves. After all, we have His promise:

"Look here. I have made you a part of Me,

written you on the palms of My hands."

Isaiah 49:16

No matter how lost you feel, how far from God's mind you think you are, He hasn't forgotten you. Your name is engraved on His palm--how could He forget you?

When Jesus was on the cross, He felt abandoned. He cried out to God, asking why He had been forsaken. His words, though, aren't the end of the story. In His moment of fear, Jesus quoted what was to Him a familiar song of David, Psalm 22. I encourage you to read the whole Psalm, but specifically a few verses.

"My God, my God, why have You turned Your back on me?

Your ears are deaf to my groans.

O my God, I cry all day and You are silent;

my tears in the night bring no relief.

Still, You are holy;

You make Your home on the praises of Israel.

[...]

He's not put off by the suffering of the suffering one;

He doesn't pretend He hasn't seen him;

when he pleaded for help, He listened."

Psalm 22:1-3, 24

If this time of uncertainty has you feeling abandoned and forgotten, if you're crying out to God because you are suffering and you feel like He isn't hearing you, know that He hasn't turned away. He didn't turn away from His Son suffering on the cross, and He hasn't turned away from you.

One of my favorite songs lately is "Thy Will" by Hilary Scott. In part, it says:

"I know you're good
But this don't feel good right now
And I know you think
Of things I could never think about
 

It's hard to count it all joy
Distracted by the noise
Just trying to make sense
Of all your promises
 

Sometimes I gotta stop
Remember that you're God
And I am not
So

Thy will be done"

 

Things are crazy right now--I won't pretend like they aren't. A lot of people are stuck in what seems like an impossible situation, and they don't see a way out. We're so easily distracted by our circumstances, but God's promises don't change despite our short attention span. He is still God, and He is still on the throne. He doesn't promise that our time here on earth will be easy; in fact, we're told time and time again that it won't be easy. Instead, His promise is that our temporary afflictions here on earth will seem like nothing when we are in the midst of eternity with Him.

"So we have no reason to despair.

Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying,

our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day.

You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us

an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here.

So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes.

All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away.

Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see,

which live on and on.

We know that if our earthly house--

a mere tent that can easily be taken down--

is destroyed, we will then live in an eternal home in the heavens,

a building crafted by divine--not human--hands."

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1

I'll stop there, but I would definitely encourage you to keep reading through at least verse 9. I'm not the biggest fan of how Paul wrote, but there's definitely good stuff in his letters.

I know that I'm one of the ones experiencing blessings I don't deserve right now. My family is safe and secure, in a position where we don't have to worry about our next meal or where we will sleep tonight. I also know, though, that we aren't guaranteed any of that. Things could change in a heartbeat because that's the way of this broken world. Like Paul, though, I'm learning to change my outlook on the circumstances of life:

"I am not saying this because I am in need.

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances.

I know how to survive in tight situations,

and I know how to enjoy having plenty.

In fact, I have learned how to face any circumstances:

fed or hungry, with or without.

I can be content in any and every situation

through the Anointed One who is my power and strength."

Philippians 4:11-13

 No matter what gets thrown at us as we walk through these strange, uncertain times, Christ is our strength. His strength is shown best through our weakness, and it won't fail. In His weakest moment physically--carrying His cross after bearing a beating that should have left Him dead--He still walked the road to the cross even though He fully knew the excruciating pain and humiliation that was ahead of Him. Right now, in this mess and confusion, He still walks beside us. He stays with us on this road, like He walked beside His disciples on the road to Damascus, because He knows what is ahead for each of us.

"I don't worry o'er the future

For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him

For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand"

The future may be unknown to me, but it isn't to Him. He knows what's in store, the good and the bad, and He promises to stand beside me through all of it. He promises to pull me up when I fall into the darkness, and He promises that my future with Him means so much more than anything I may face here.

"Be strong and live courageously,

all of you who set your hope in the Eternal!"

Psalm 31:24