Seasons of Uncertainty

When I was in junior high my dad became very ill from the bite of a tiny tick that eventually resulted in him being diagnosed with Lyme’s Disease. The road to a diagnosis was a difficult one, to say the least, and even after his diagnosis finding someone skilled and knowledgeable in treating this disease presented to be even more of a challenge. This season brought about a lot of uncertainty for my family. Being in junior high I did not have a full understanding of all the what-ifs, but I was able to recognize the physical toll it was taking on my dad’s health as well as the emotional toll it took on my mom. If you know my dad then you know he is one of the most hardworking, strongest, giving men you will ever meet, so to see him struggling to get out of bed and do the daily things he needed and wanted to do was devastating. Although that season was very hard on my family I have every confidence that if you ask my parents and sister they would agree with me; that season of uncertainty grew us as a family and spurred our faith.

Sweet friend, we all face seasons of uncertainty in our lives. Whether it is a medical diagnosis, a financial struggle, loss of a marriage/job/home, a life-altering decision, waiting on an outcome, a worldwide pandemic, or division in the country we live in. Uncertainty tends to bring about feelings of anxiousness, restlessness, doubt, and insecurity. The unknown is often uncomfortable and let’s be honest, our human nature and entitled hearts prefer to be comfortable at all times. If we are not careful, uncertainty can rob us of what we know to be true as believers; that we serve a God who is faithful, sovereign, trustworthy, and always certain of what is to come. We cannot allow our hope to be incapacitated by what we do not know and remember trusting God’s goodness is one of the safest places our hearts can wait. Uncertainty is not a new struggle, when sin entered this world, uncertainty placed its stake in the ground and we see evidence of this throughout the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we meet Sarah, Abraham’s wife who is already 65 years of age. God had promised a great nation out of Abraham but here was his wife bearing no children. There were times of uncertainty in Sarah’s heart of whether God would fulfill His promise but 25 years later, at the age of 90, Sarah bore a son. Sarah’s life is a reminder that God is faithful in His timing and promises. In the book of Ruth, we meet a Moabite named Ruth who after the death of her father-in-law and husband is determined to stay by the side of her beloved mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi returns to her native land of Bethlehem and urges Ruth to return to her homeland as well. Ruth could have returned to her family but instead, she vowed to stay with Naomi and declare Naomi’s God and people her own. Uncertainties awaited Ruth but God had a plan and the favor of a man named Boaz waiting for her. Through their lineage would come David and the Lord Jesus Christ, this is more than a love story, it is a testimony of the goodness and sovereignty of God.

Sweet friend, we do not serve a wasteful God. Just like these Biblical characters mentioned above, when we allow God to, He will use every bit of our uncertain season to bolster our faith, refine our character, and foster spiritual maturity. During these seasons I would also encourage you to write down your prayers, scripture, and any other ways He ministers to your heart. This way you have a tangible reminder when you, a family member, or close friend encounters the next season of uncertainty. Satan loves to attack our memory, taunt us, and have us to forget all the things the Lord has done for us. In the words of Alicia Bruxvoort, forgetfulness “confiscates our confidence and plunders our purpose, hampers our hope and pillages our peace.”

During and after my divorce, there was so much uncertainty on what would come next. During that time I made a habit to journal everything, even the hard stuff, the Lord was revealing and teaching me. I am so glad I did because those pages are a constant reminder I can pour over to serve as a reminder of His unfailing love and never changing faithfulness. Sweet friend, you and I may not have all the answers but may we never forget we serve the One who does; may we rest in that truth today and each day/season that passes. In closing, I want to leave you with one of my favorite verses that always brings peace to my heart during my seasons of uncertainty and that is Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God, in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”