Fear of the Future
The future can fill us with apprehension. It is a great
unknown, fertile soil for anxiety and worry. Since we do not know what it
holds, we often fill in the gaps with what we believe about the world. Our
experiences and past can emotionally shape how we handle what may lie ahead or
our perceptions of it. The more unsure we are, the more unease increases.
Feeling as if we have no control in life can cause a
great deal of turmoil, yet we have little ultimate control over outcomes and
circumstances beyond our reach. We seek comfort in being the master of every detail of our
lives, but we will encounter trials. Trouble visits us in a fallen world. To anxiously seek a level of control we cannot possess adds to inner conflict.
Though life is full of difficulty, outright disaster is a possibility not a certainty. It can also be a matter of how we perceive something, rather than objective reality. Fear conveys the sense of heightened and known certainty, though it is not known. Panic tells us even a remote possibility of what we deem disaster is a definite real-time actuality. These emotions send a message which shouts of dread and anxiety. Most of the time they lie to us. The 99 times nothing happened goes unnoticed, while one time confirms our panicked outlook on life.
Though life is full of difficulty, outright disaster is a possibility not a certainty. It can also be a matter of how we perceive something, rather than objective reality. Fear conveys the sense of heightened and known certainty, though it is not known. Panic tells us even a remote possibility of what we deem disaster is a definite real-time actuality. These emotions send a message which shouts of dread and anxiety. Most of the time they lie to us. The 99 times nothing happened goes unnoticed, while one time confirms our panicked outlook on life.
While we cannot discern what the future holds, we can
be assured of the character of God. If we have accepted Christ, our
welfare is safe in His hands. He is utterly trustworthy. That does not mean our
lives will be perfect and without trials. It is God’s purpose not to shield us
from trouble, but to use it to shape our relationship with Him. Our heavenly
Father is more interested in our spiritual growth than our temporary comfort. This does not mean He does not care about what we go through. He does. In Christ, He loves us dearly. Behind the difficult experiences, however, He has greater purpose than what we see.
Rather than desperately seeking control, it is in surrender we become free. God will empower us in our weakness, fill us with His peace, and be our
steadfast joy. We step out on our journey holding this in our hearts, confident
not in ourselves, but in an awesome God. Instead of dread, we call to mind the
hopeful potential the unknown may bring in the loving-kindness of God. Our
lives become an epic pilgrimage in the joy of the love of Christ which shines rays
of grace throughout our days.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
How to have a personal relationship with God
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How to have a personal relationship with God
Can I pray for you or someone you know today? Visit the Share Your Prayer Request page.
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