Without fear of the future

I'm writing in a time where everything is uncertain. No-one seems to know up from down, and the world has encountered a pandemic, which has given rise to much panic and much fear. No-one knows how long the COVID-19 crisis will last, or how long the economic effects of this will last. We are all asking ourselves when can we go back to NORMAL? A normal where I can hug whoever I want without a thought, a normal where people can get married, where worshipers can worship freely together in a big crowd. A colleague said we will never go back to normal, but rather to a 'new normal'. 

Yesterday this really sank in for me, that life will never be the same. No-one truly knows what the future holds, whether it be socially or economically. And this caused fear and anxiety to rise up in me, about my job, my dreams, my future. It's a scary thought to know you are not in control. It's not that you haven't faced hard times before;but it was your challenge while the world seemed stable. But now I face a moment in time where the crisis is not mine alone, but everyone around you is facing it too. And that is SCARY!!!

As a counsellor, and Christian I often feel the need to be strong, to have faith. But just because you are a Christian, and even a Christian leader does not mean you are always strong, or don't battle fear, disappointments, questions and doubt. We see even Paul had times of weakness (see 2 Cor 12:10). So yes, currently my faith is feeling a little wobbly!

So I reach for my Bible, and open 'randomly' to Isaiah 30, where verse 15 hits me: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved." I need to return my heart, my mind away from the worries, fears, questions and refocus on God. I can rest because He is the finisher of my faith (Heb 12:2), the one who turns my weakness to strength (2 Cor 12:10) and is my peace (Eph 2:14). And so I turn my thoughts slowly back unto Jesus.

This morning I walked past a picture of my room based on Proverbs 31:25 "she laughs without fear of the future." And I realize again, that there is only way to live without fear of the future, which is trusting my unknown and uncertain future into the hands of a loving and known God, who has my future in His hands. And so it is my prayer that today in this uncertain day I would be found laughing at the time to come, for my God has got me! And He has got you!

May the peace of God, guard all our hearts and minds as we bring our anxieties to Him in prayer; being thankful that He has the future in His hands and hears our prayers.