by Jacob Ninan
We all face many types of uncertainties at different times in life. It is only natural that we wish we can understand everything that is going on, and even that we could be in control of everything. But the fact is that as long as we are on this earth, life will never be totally free from uncertainties.
We can see that uncertainties generally come in at least three different forms.
1. What is going to happen?
This is not knowing what is going to happen to us next. We see one great example in the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon commanded them to bow down before his statue. Otherwise they were going to be thrown into a fiery furnace. As godly Jews, they knew that they could bow down only before God. They knew God was able to to deliver them from the king's hands, but at that time they did not know if He was actually going to do that (Dan.3:17,18). This was uncertainty of a most serious type! But their loyalty to God was so strong that even if they were going to die, they would not disobey Him.2. What is going on?
Job was the godliest man on earth in his time. But for reasons he did not know, he lost all his children and his wealth in one day, and soon after that he became sick in his body too. Of course, this kind of calamity involving sudden loss of his children would have produced in him almost unbearable grief. But there was another thing that was troubling him in his mind at that time. He was very perplexed in his mind, not knowing what was going on in his life, what God was doing and why. He asked God why this was happening (Job.10:2), and he wanted to have a meeting with God to discuss the meaning of all those events (Job.23:3-5). None of us has faced the level of trouble that Job faced, but we too know from our own situations how frustrating it is to be unable to figure out what is happening!3. What shall I do now?
David was running away from King Saul because Saul was trying to kill him. Saul had been disobedient to God, and so, God had taken off the kingdom from his hands and anointed David to be the king in his place. However, Saul was not willing to let go of his kingdom, and was now after David. What was David to do? He wanted only to be pleasing to God. He had not sought the kingdom for himself and it was God who had given it to him, but now not only was he not king, but he was running for dear life! What was he to do? We all know only too well how puzzling it can be at times, not knowing what to do even though we want to do the right thing.Our perplexity may be due to uncertainties in different areas of life. Perhaps it concerns finance, relationships, health, job, or spiritual issues. We wish to know and understand what is going on and what we should do, and we struggle not knowing how things are going to turn out. These uncertainties lead us to anxiety, worry, fear, etc.
What do people usually do with uncertainties?
Some people put on an artificial confidence thinking that everything will finally turn out well. They don't realise this is a false optimism, because they are not basing this on any strong foundation and they are refusing to look at actual possibilities like Shadrach and others did. They are trying to temporarily keep the tension away hoping that it will go away. But this is so shaky.
Some others 'leave it all to God' and hope that God will take care of the whole thing. Yes, sometimes it is true that God assures us that He will take care, just as He told Israel when they were between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. But if we have not received that assurance from God specifically at the time, can we just presume on that? What about things we have to do from our side? What if it was our own foolishness or sin that brought us into that situation? Can we shirk our responsibility to set things right?
Some people get so overwhelmed by their anxiety that they need anti-anxiety medication to calm them and lead them to stability of mind. Such medicines are useful for such situations, but we should not forget that they do not resolve the issues that led us to that anxiety. After we have calmed down, we still need to deal with those situations.
Some others just give up on God when they cannot figure out such uncertainties. Without realising that there are things they are unable to understand – such as why God is not answering their particular prayers or why such things are happening to them – and reaching out to God, they depend on their limited knowledge and find fault with God. In order to fill the vacuum that results when God is out of their life, they get immersed in entertainment, drinks, drugs, partying, etc.
What can we do to deal with uncertainties?
1. First of all, we must accept the fact that uncertainties are an unavoidable part of our life. We mustn't imagine that once we have become children of God, everything will go smoothly and without problems. God warns us not to think of situations as being strange which are happening to us (1Pet.4:12), because our brothers and sisters in different parts of the world are also going through similar times (1Cor.10:13), even if we are not aware of that. When we mentally accept the fact of uncertainties in our life, that helps us to face them when they come.
2. Only God knows the future. Angels, demons, people including us – none of us knows the future. Anyone who claims to be able to tell us our future is either telling us lies or is being used by demons to deceive us. This tells that we should not be going to soothsayers, astrologers, psychics or fortune-tellers to find out what is going to happen to us! We should be careful not to seek so-called prophets also to get to know the future or what we should do. If we have become children of God, He has given each of us a direct access to Him as our Father (Heb.8:11). We don't need any intermediary between us and God. So, what we should do in times of uncertainty is to go to our Father, open our heart and mind to Him (as David did many times in the psalms), and ask for His help and guidance.
3. We ought to be studying the word of God at all times, during times of peace and also during difficult times, to learn more and more about God. Don't imagine that we know a few verses and therefore we know Him! He is far above us, and a lifetime is not enough to get to know Him. The more we know what kind of a person He is, what promises He has given to us, how He has dealt with different types of people in the past, etc., the easier it will be to trust Him.
4. Learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Walking by sight includes seeing what God is actually doing, and also about trying to understand everything. We must realise that we can never fully understand God, ourselves or what is going on, and that the only way to live successfully in a practical sense is to trust God concerning everything.
Shadrach and friends have demonstrated to us that even in the face of uncertainty concerning life, it is possible to trust in God and make the right choices. Some people make the mistake of thinking that the intensity of the situation gives them the right to bend rules (and disobey God)! We need to hold on to the truth that those who wait on God in dependence on Him will not be disappointed ultimately (Isa.40:31). We know the famous prayer of King Jehoshaphat who, when he found himself in a situation that was way beyond him, trusted God and committed the matter to Him (2Chr.20:12).
Walking by faith includes committing the outcome to God, believing that He knows what is best for us, and that no plan that we can make can be better than His. In that respect, we must become willing to do whatever He tells us, even when we cannot fully understand it.
5. Anxiety comes from uncertainty. But when we trust in God as the almighty, all-knowing One who has made Himself our Father, we will find that the peace of God begins to fill our heart. We know that He will cause all things to work together for our good. The ultimate good that we desire is that we should become more and more like Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, in the way He lived and gave an example for us to follow.
6. Depending on God does not mean that we need not seek help from other people. In fact, people are one way God has provided for our help. There are more mature people, more experienced and more well-trained who can help us to deal with our uncertainties.
We may be under attack from the Devil. But we can put on an attitude that by faith we will endure, by faith we will survive, by faith we will conquer and by faith we will glorify God. It is when we choose to live by faith in God and not by sight that we bring glory to Him. Then He will make us more than conquerors – we can overcome our own situations, and we can then become strong to help others to conquer too.