Truths to Hold Onto In Uncertain Times

If I’m honest, I’ve been having a really hard time with everything happening in the world around me right now. At the beginning of March, I sat down with a friend and ranted, “I just can’t go through anymore change right now. I’ve reached my limit for change. I just want everything to be normal for a while and then I’ll be good.”

Little did I know that in only a couple short weeks, everything would change. I would suddenly be living what was anything but “normal.”

It hurt. It felt uncomfortable. It felt scary.

And I’m certain that in some way you can relate.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone’s lives have been altered in some way. Even if you’re not sick yourself, you may know someone who is, or you’ve experienced some kind of cancellation or change in your plans, school, work, sports, or life schedule. The list could go on.

When things started cancelling, I’ll be honest and say that I panicked a little bit. That may be a slight understatement. When I found out that we wouldn’t be able to have church services in the way that we were used to, I believe I cried two different times that day, had four moments where I just felt angry, and then ate a pint of ice cream to help me cope with that fact that all of this change was really stressing me out.

How many times have you felt stressed this week? How many times have you felt anxious? Sad? Scared? Frustrated? Lonely? Uncertain?

Here’s the thing: we live in a world of uncertainty.

James 4:14-15 reminds us of this:

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

We don’t ever really know what tomorrow or next month or next year, even our next minute holds.

Life can be so uncertain.

Maybe that’s why I’ve had such a rough time these last few weeks. Maybe that’s why you relate too. Maybe that’s why you’ve struggled with all of these feelings and emotions as well.

Yet even in the midst of such uncertain times and a life that feels more uncertain than we would like to admit right now, there are several vital truths we can hold onto that will be like our anchor in the midst of whatever storms follow.

Here are just three important truths to remember when walking through even the hardest of uncertain times.

Truth #1 – God Never Changes

This is one of the most comforting truths that I have come to know and hold onto no matter what I’m walking through.

Malachi 3:6 reminds us that, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” While Hebrews 13:8 gives us this promise, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

No matter what is uncertain or changing around me, I can be one hundred percent certain of this.

God does not change.

I can be walking through the harshest storm yet and be experiencing the most terrifying, unknown, uncertain future and still be confident of this thing—my God has never changed and He never will change, no matter what is changing around me.

Truth #2 – God is Still Present

Social distancing is a word we have all become very familiar with.

And if we’re all honest, we’d all have to admit that over the last few weeks of our lives we’ve probably felt lonelier than we have in a while. Sometimes we don’t realize how important it is to be together, until suddenly we’re not.

Well here’s your good news for the day: Social distancing does not apply to God.

God is still present with us and close to us even here, right now, in the midst of all the crazy uncertainty flooding our phone and TV screens every day.

Isaiah 41:10 encourages us, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” And one of my favorites is from Romans 8:38-39 which says, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s presence and His love for us will never go away. You can be confident of that.

Truth #3 – God Still Wants to Use You

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

The plans, calling, and mission that God has for our lives does not stop just because of a virus. Serving God isn’t cancelled because of COVID-19.

It might look different. The way you serve Him and the way you are used by Him might look different now than it did three weeks ago. But that doesn’t mean that you stop serving or that you stop living out the mission He has for you.

God’s plans for you haven’t been cancelled. His calling on your life has not been cancelled.

He still wants to use you, right now, even here. Keep serving Him.

Life is very different in this time. But different doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

We can keep holding onto God’s truth and serving Him even right here in this place. He is still here with us.

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