Certainty for Uncertain Times
Looking at the world around us, it’s scary to see how quickly things are changing – music, technology, jobs, and human interaction. At my college graduation in May, the president of the university reflected back to four years ago when we were just entering college. He listed things that are so common and a part of everyday life now. It is astounding to think on. Think about life ten years ago. Forty years ago. One hundred years ago. Look at how far we have come and how much history has been made!
As far as we see times “advancing,” it is too easy to get caught up in the flow and the drift. Soon we are swept away, caught in the currents of change. And yet… how can we truly feel settled when things around us are changing so much? There is so little that remains the same throughout life. There is only One!
He is our Rock.
He is unchangeable. Immovable. A stronger Tower and mighty Fortress Who cannot be penetrated. I mean this in the sense that God shields us and is a constant place of refuge from the uncertainty of the world. His heart is so tender and compassionate; His love for us never, ever changes!
God’s got a plan. It was laid out from the start. This is our firm foundation, the rock on which we can stand if we choose. It is a journey in life to know that God loves us always, just as we are. For God is always holy, just, righteous, pure, true, on and on we can go. These attributes of Who God really is never change! They are part of Who He is, and since He is eternal, so is His nature. In this we can trust. In this we can rest.
God is always looking out for our good, no, our best! Always. And the great part of all this is that He has the absolute highest perspective from way on top, seeing time from beginning to end. He knows it because He sees it all. He’s got a plan, and we all fit into it. So, just like we’re told, that all things work together for our good, it is hopefully easier to understand that we can trust every situation and every circumstance into God’s care and keeping. It just takes a little trust. Simply resting in His keeping of all times helps us to be more settled and at rest, especially when times aren’t so stable.
I am proud to say that my brother has very recently returned from Iraq as a member of the 56th Stryker Brigade, stationed in Taji, Iraq. Spanning over the course of a year, he trained for three months, came home and got married, then went to Iraq for eight months. Life comes at you fast! We are incredibly thankful he is home safely.
Even though where he was stationed was not a hot combat zone, the question lingered from day to day as to his personal safety and well-being. Regardless, we just never knew. All we could really do was to pray and to trust God that he was safe.
The same thing happens in our lives. There is so much we never know. All we can do is trust. Each day is a unique miracle of its own. Only God knows what it will bring. Hold onto the Lord and stand firmly on the Rock. He’s got us sheltered in the protection of His hands. He knows every situation and circumstance and is carefully keeping watch over us, right here beside us. He really has us covered.
He’s got the plan. All things work together for our good. Regardless of what happens we can know that He will use it for our good. Let’s learn from everything going on – easy or tough, little or loads, joyous or sad. Learn to see the One Who has all time, creation, and hearts directly before Him. He can transcend time, pain, woundedness, even life itself, just so we can know Him and live closer to Him.
Let’s take God at His word and be certain that He loves us, is constantly caring for us, is watching over is, has a hand in all situations and circumstances, and works all things together for our own good. And as we grow to know this, with absolute resolve and without doubt, we will shout for joy! Nothing will be able to contain the ecstasy we feel at knowing how indelibly loved and cared for we are! In this bliss we will give our all back to our Creator, the One Who deserves all the glory, Who has all time and creation in His hand!! God is pure bliss!
24″Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
-Matthew 7:24-27
I would like to dedicate this article to all those serving in our Armed Forces. May God be with you and protect you on your journey. Thank you for your service!
