The unknown. At times, this weighs hard on everyone. For those prone to fear and anxiety, the concealed creates a vast depth of despair and dread. Worry mounts and distress moves in, crowding out peace and joy.
A myriad of facts and certainties, from science and math to the details of our work and daily lives, establish a sense of security and build a false confidence that we are in control. But without warning, the “what if” flags start popping up, and the Enemy begins parading panic-producing possibilities from the abyss of the unknown, naming them in our ear as he scrolls down his checklist:
-you’ve no idea when you will die; or how
-you cannot see, outside of this moment, what will be
-you have no grasp on the terrors the future may hold
-what great loss will you suffer, perhaps today: your spouse, a child,
a sibling, a parent, a close friend, your job, your home
-your body may be full of disease at this moment, just a breath
away from rearing its ugly head
-you’ve no control over others behaviors and decisions that
could decimate your little peaceful world
-many circumstances could strip you of financial securities
-what if your heart, or joints, or mind give way
On and on his fear-inducing drivel goes.
How do we fight the uncertainty of what is obscured from our sight? How do we look into that murky darkness with confidence? How do we turn down the heat on simmering anxiety?
Trust and strength grow when we take the unknown and lay it alongside truth. Not about ourselves. Or this world. But truth about God.
We latch on to Paul’s directive to “take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Grabbing hold of any idea rooted in fear of the unknown, we hold it up to the light of Truth, examine it against what we know of Him, and allow that knowledge to transform fear to faith.
Truths that stare-down the panic rising from the uncharted future could fill a book. Indeed, they do fill a book; the Word of God. Our resource when worry creeps in. Let’s review a few of those truths.
1. “I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know Who holds the future.” -Ralph Abernathy. Not just a lovely thought to paste on a pretty background and share on social media. But a solid rock on which to stand. Our God is in control. Of all things. At all times. (Proverbs 19:21; 16:9; Psalm 115:3)
2. God will never leave us. Period. Whatever we face in the future, we will not face it alone, but with our compassionate Father pouring out His light and love. (Psalm 23:4; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:38-39)
3. God is our Warrior-King and does battle for us. Holding our right hand, He stands ready as our always-present help in trouble. (Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 118:6-7; Isaiah 41:13)
4. God. Is. Sovereign. The scriptures declare over 300 times that He reigns as Sovereign Lord. Nothing happens to us without His permission. (Romans 8:28; Lamentations 3:37-38; Psalm 139:16: Isaiah 46:10b)
“We live beneath the protective palm of a sovereign King
who superintends every circumstance of our lives
and delights in doing us good.
Nothing comes your way that has not first passed through
the filter of his love.” -Max Lucado
With wisdom and grace, our Abba Father chooses not to reveal what lies ahead. But directs us to keep our focus and attentions in the present, where we bathe in the Light of His presence. To enjoy the pleasures, and work through the hards, of each moment. To reside in the now, where He prepares us for our future.
So when the Enemy attempts to cast fear into our hearts, let’s remind him Who directs our steps, lights our path, and holds our future. Remind him that we rest in the shadow of the Almighty Warrior-King. Remind him Who is our strength and help, and of the One who never leaves us. Today. And always. When we remind Satan who our Heavenly Father is, that dastardly devil departs, dumbfounded and defeated; as we remain in the present, full of trust and peace, in the joy of His presence.
Photo by Alex Geerts on Unsplash
