We face a lot of unknowns in this life, in nearly every part of this life.
And with that comes a lot of worry. But, the thing is that we weren’t made to worry—we were made to rest. And I’m not talking about taking a break or drawing a necessary boundary (though those are both important), I’m talking about resting in the fact that God has got whatever situations we’re in right in the palm of His hand. More specifically—those situations where we have not a clue what’s coming next.
I’ve been in such a situation for about two and a half years now. I’ve got this issue where I give it to God and instead of just resting in the fact that He’s going to work it out for my good, I want to keep taking it back and analyzing it, trying to predict the outcome, asking what’s coming next and how I can handle it and if I can handle it and before I know it my mind is absolutely spiraling, and that doesn’t sound like rest, does it? That doesn’t sound like trusting God with it.
Phew. Let’s open up to John and Matthew.
A lot of the unrest in our situations comes from impatience. And not the kind where we just want an answer now, but the kind that stems from the fear that brews while we wait in a mysterious circumstance. As in, the waiting part isn’t the most difficult thing about it—the not knowing how this is going to work out is or why God isn’t just sparing us all the worry and telling us all the answers part is.
This brings Simon Peter to mind, in John. Here, Jesus was washing His disciples’ feet, and Simon Peter told Him that he wasn’t worthy of that, to which Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7 NIV). Now, our situations are in different contexts than Simon Peter’s, but as always, Jesus’ point still rings true. No, we may not know exactly what God is going to do in our particular circumstances—but He has plans for them, even if we don’t understand those plans. Let’s rest in that. We don’t know the outcome. But God does and he knows why.
However, we do still tend to worry about what comes next, and that is the opposite of what God tells us to do. In fact, instead of worrying about the future, Jesus tells us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NIV). Here, He’s telling us to breathe and be in the gift that is the present. I know, that’s much easier said than done. So, while you’re reading this, take a second and breathe in the very gift that is the peace of Jesus. And then take a second and feel the gratitude that He has tomorrow in His Hands.
We also know that worrying about situations in which there’s nothing we can do (which is most situations where the next thing is a mystery) isn’t good for us. In two of my very favorite verses in the Bible, Jesus says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:26-27 NIV). While some worry may propel us to action, most worry just drains us and distracts us from who Jesus is. When I worry, it puts the situation in my hands when it really belongs in God’s hands. It turns me into someone who is consistently frazzled, uneasy and tired rather than the refreshed and content daughter of Christ I’m meant to be.
Then comes the part where we don’t know if we can handle what’s coming next, and I think that can be the most daunting. At least, it is for me. But, we’ve got to remind ourselves that while we may not be able to handle it, God can. And that’s not to say that it won’t be painful, because it often is. That is to say that Jesus walks on the very waves that are about to crash over our heads—on the turbulent, unpredictable waters that threaten to swallow us up. We may get wet and we may struggle to swim, and it can be and often will be hard, but when we rely on Him, He will not let us drown. Indeed, this life is full of unknowns, but the fact that Jesus will be with us through every single one is not one of them.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Katie Pennington is a writer and editor who is originally from Hazard, Kentucky, but currently resides with her family in central Tennessee (though she frequently visits her Appalachian roots). Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 42:5, which reminds her that in despair, there’s hope in God, and there’s healing in praising Him.