Dealing With Uncertainty

Uncertainty seems to blanket the landscape of our lives no matter where we turn.  We are uncertain when the virus’ cloud shall be lifted from our society.  Frankly, we are uncertain as to how we shall even recognize its removal and how we shall go about restoring order once more to our communities.  We wonder what our lives will be like then and whether the “normal” that we’ve known in the past shall be returned to us.  Jobs have been lost and financial stability rocked.  Businesses have closed and may not come back.  Even the way of doing business and conducting our daily affairs has been substantially disrupted and modified. We are left wondering whether or to what extent the very quality of our lives has been jeopardized.

Such uncertainty leaves an empty feeling in each of us to one degree or another.  We feel as if we are merely plodding along without a clear sense of direction.  It is as if we were awoken from our beds in the black of night only to grope along in the darkness not quite knowing what our next step may encounter.  We wait for the cloud to lift that light might once again shine upon our path and make our way clear.  Such persistent and relentless uncertainty reveals most certainly just how little of substance we actually control and, perhaps, that is what discomforts us the most!  Uncertainty leads us to confront our true helplessness and we don’t like that. 

How do we cope then with this floundering, this forced suspension of our lives, this unwelcome intrusion to our order?  We need to be listening to the right voice.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world:  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Following Christ gives light to our path and hope for our journey.  We may not know where the road will lead tomorrow, but we know that the right road leads out at the right place. 

The LORD’s earthly people, the Jews, had entered into their own dark period having been carried to Babylon in captivity.  Yet in the midst of that darkness, he quieted them with this message, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).  The “expected end” was the culmination of his promises to Abraham concerning a nation, a land, and a dynasty.  The LORD was telling them to rest in his promises for all shall be fulfilled.  Christ offers the same assurance today to all those who follow him – an expected end characterized by peace.

Asaph captured this sentiment perfectly when he declared of the LORD, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24).  He will lead me through this life and preserve me safely unto his presence.  That, my friend, is all the certainty we need.  Follow Christ now and you shall not walk in darkness.