Becoming Clear and Rising Above Uncertainty
I’ve faced a lot of uncertainty in times past, and it’s one aspect of reality that nobody gets to avoid. This blog post would have been something I needed at the time. Before anything we do, there’s uncertainty. I took things one step at a time, and with every step I took, I trusted God and didn’t let fear hold me back. I became a cycle breaker, and certain things ran in my family until they ran into me.
We need a secure biblical worldview and a sound theology to sustain us whenever we face life’s uncertainties. When uncertainties kept me up at night, I closed my eyes and thought of something certain- God’s Love. The fact is, uncertainties will never go away. And waiting on God requires the willingness for us to bear uncertainty, and to carry within ourselves the unanswered questions we have, lifting our hearts to God about them whenever they intrude upon our thoughts. One thing we can be sure of is that God is in control even when we have those ups and downs. On an hourly basis, we see the need for us to keep praying, and placing our peace on God, reminding ourselves about the promises of God which never fail.
We humans are prone to being tossed around by our emotions. One minute, we are happy and bouncing around, but add just a tad bit of pressure, and this can send us spiraling down the depths of despair the very next minute. God, is not prone to such bouts of emotional fits and turbulence. He is stable, steady, and constant. He knows exactly what is set to happen next, and He is safe to trust, regardless of how we feel.
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”
During periods of turbulence, stress, turmoil, and uncertainty, we must remind ourselves of this truth, God’s Word. It is our compass. As we navigate this world, there is nothing more valuable than the guiding hand of a loving God. Regardless of what is happening to us physically, or emotionally, we can rest secure in the ever-constant, and reliable truths that God has revealed to us in the Bible.
Romans 8:5 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
Close your eyes and imagine you’re surrounded by a universe completely made out of love. Now feel yourself completely taking in all the love in the universe. And gently but firmly, place all of it in your heart. As children of God, He loves us with an active love. This means that He is constantly working in our lives for our good and for His glory. He does not set about events in motion and step back coldly. He is with us, carefully watching and guiding us.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
The world is constantly pulling at us, trying to draw us inside ourselves to be full of self-idolatry. Not only that, but distractions, stress, sickness, chaos, fear, all these things call to our attention. The Bible teaches us that we must hold thoughts captive and discipline our minds so that we can keep them focused on Jesus Christ, our Savior. His position is to be the focus of our thoughts because He alone sits at the right hand of God.
“Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1
Seek Worship Not Warships
Worship is when we turn our hearts and minds to our Savior to adore, exalt, and revere Him. Worshipping God is a way for us to practice keeping our focus on Christ, not man. By focusing our attention on the characteristics of God, and on His timeless truths, our hearts worship Him: our Lord and our Maker.
“Lord you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1
Life can get tough. Staying faithful in our Christian walk can be difficult too. Many verses in the Bible command us to stay the course. And we must not give up this walk, regardless of how we feel. Yes, life is frequently harder than a lot of us can bear, but that’s when we can rely on the strength that the Holy Spirit enables us with.
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” He will make it possible for us to withstand anything: through His strength alone.
When we worry about the uncertainty of the future and try to control it, we fail. True confidence is living in uncertainty and moving forward. We need to rest from our own thoughts. Yes, I am aware that keeping a clear mind can be challenging. There’s an actual battle going on in there. There are so many things around us trying to steal our peace every day. But holding on to God’s’ truth and letting it guide you will give you the strength that you need.
Here’s the thing: sometimes my mind still ponders back and forth in-between the unknown but it isn’t that much of a burden any longer. I know that I am not alone in feeling this way. But the one that gives me rest is Jesus Christ. He keeps me company and grants me the grace and the peace that I need.
One of my favorite verses is from Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” True happiness depends on how you accept this, and what you do about this verse. But first, accept Jesus, because if you don’t accept Jesus, you will keep having this thing in your mind, that you can get over uncertainty, or under uncertainty, or that you can even eliminate it, and you can’t. Once you realize this, then “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.
If you would like more insight on navigating uncertainty, listen to this episode on my podcast here.
**Erica weaves themes of transformative hope and grace-filled leadership into everything she shares on her blog. She’s an author, a speaker, and a life coach, who offers honest encouragement and road-tested wisdom about topics ranging from leadership and lifestyle, to discovering your God-crafted identity, design, and purpose.
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