“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like to know what’s coming next, don’t you? How do you handle the unknown? Do you try to anticipate every possible outcome and strategize how to handle each scenario? Maybe you throw up your hands in hopelessness. Do you work hard to protect what you have?

There are a lot of responses we could have to an uncertain future. The future is always a question mark, but the current world situation makes it more clear than ever. How are you doing with your questions? Do you have a knot in your stomach as you try to figure things out or are you at peace with the unknown? 

I have come to realize that I am a fixer and I like to plan. How do those things go together, you ask? Many times I make plans as a way to “fix” anticipated negative outcomes. In short, my plans are often an attempt to “fix” n advance. I would not have recognized that years ago, but I have learned that every one of us, including me, has a problem with control. Wasn’t that the real issue way back in the garden of Eden? “Eat the fruit, be like God, be in control!” That’s what attracted Eve and Adam. It’s the same trap you and I fall into, although we don’t always see it. 

When we can’t control what we don’t know, we work on controlling what we do know. Save a much money as you can. Hoard toilet paper. Arrange the family schedule just so. Try to find out as much as possible by watching the news 24/7. You get the idea. Is there anything wrong with saving money or stocking up on supplies, making schedules or staying informed? Absolutely not. But what you and I need to evaluate is our motivation. If it is fear or control, then I am not trusting God. How can we learn to really trust God in uncertain times?

We have some wonderful friends who invited us on a vacation and showed us how to relax.  After that first trip, we spent the next several summers spending a yearly vacation with them and our school-age kids. Most of the time they made the plans and we came along, paying as much of our part as we could. At one point, one of us, can’t remember who, decided that we should create a new “family name” by blending our two last names because we had become a family. Those summer vacations are among my most precious memories. 

One year, our friends had experienced a lot of difficulty so Tom and I decided that we would handle the family vacation. We made all the plans and covered the major expenses. Well, really, I made all the plans. It’s what I do!

We were heading to a different location. They had taken us to Cape Cod, and we had gone there several years in a row. That location was now familiar to all of us. However, we had talked about going some place with warmer water so I took it upon myself to explore that option for all of us. My brother told us about Bethany Beach, Delaware, so I decided to try that. I found and booked a house for us online and did some preliminary research on what was in the area. 

The day came and we made the trip. All the while my stomach was in knots. I felt totally responsible for the whole trip. What if this turned out to be horrible? What if I made a huge mistake and we all suffered for it all week? 

After we had settled into the nice house in a good location and found the Food Lion so that we were set up for the rest of the week, we set out to find a restaurant for dinner. I had looked up a few places in advance, but every one of them was overcrowded with recently arrived vacationers like us. With three kids along, not to mention our travel fatigue, none of us wanted to wait in a crowd. But where to go? 

Those were among the most tense moments on the trip for me. If we didn’t find a good place to eat it would be all my fault, right? Finally, we happened upon a little hole in the wall restaurant that was not crowded and the food turned out to be excellent. It was only then that I could begin to relax, and it was then that God was able to show me how I was taking on responsibilities that were His, not mine. My anxiety of trying to figure everything out and feeling responsible stole my enjoyment for several hours. I realized I had to let go of feeling responsible and, bottom line, not trusting God to lead us. I had to let go and trust Him with the rest of the details. Once I realized what I was doing and why I was so tense, I knew what I had to do in order to work on trusting Him and enjoying the rest of the trip. And I did!

Perhaps you are trying to approach the next several uncertain months by making plans, trying to “fix” in advance? It’s tough not to know, but God has given us some tips for tackling uncertain times. 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.“  As you survey the great unknown that is the rest of 2020 take your questions into God’s presence. Talk to Him about all of it. You may or may not get an answer, but you will have unburdened yourself on the One who can handle it. Go ahead and make some plans, but hold them loosely. Remember, We make our plans, but He directs our steps. (Proverbs 16:9) 

“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.“  There are some things that are certain in the midst of these uncertain times. God is good. His love endures forever. No matter what happens He is still a good, good Father who will never leave you or abandon you. He has carried you and I through so much. He provided His Son as the sacrifice for our sin so that we could be reconciled to Him. He demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Focus on what you do know, not what you don’t know. Thank Him for what you know. Thank Him in advance for the good He will do, even if it doesn’t turn out the way that you hope. 

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Receive what He wants to give you: His peace. God wants to pour out His peace upon you. What is His peace but a manifestation of His presence with you no matter what? His peace is an awareness, a deep consciousness, that He is good, He is God and He will move on your behalf. Isn’t that better than knowing the future?

Dear Friend, I know it’s hard not to know what is going to happen. You have some events on the horizon that you need to plan for, but you are uncertain of how to plan. This great adventure of walking with God means taking one step at a time without seeing all the way down the road. That’s what you and I need to do right now. We will pray about our questions and hold our plans loosely. We will thank God for His goodness and love. We will trust in our good Father. Trust in Him means that I can be at peace, even if I don’t know what is next. 

How’s that for a plan?

Key thought: Trust in God means I can be at peace when the future is uncertain. 

A Scripture to consider: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A YES Challenge: Take some time in God’s presence and write down all your questions about the future. Present all those questions to God. Ask Him to help you to trust Him with Your questions and to give you His peace.  

Prayer: Lord, the future is in Your hands. I don’t know what tomorrow or next week or next month or next year is going to look like. It’s really hard to make any plans about anything and I don’t like that! I give you all my questions about the future. I choose to trust You, Lord, because I know You are good. I ask You to guide me. I thank You for Your constant presence in my life, even when I am unaware of You.  Please let Your peace guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.