Unlocked: From Uncertainty

Written by Trisha Davis

God is big enough to handle anything. Our fears. Our questions. Our beautiful uncertainties. – MANDY HALE

It only seems fair and fitting to start this post with a confession: I’m a lover of all things routine, it’s true. I like shopping at the same stores. I like to read my bible in the same sunny corner on my living room couch. I love planning my life out one calendar and “to do” list at a time. I LOVE ROUTINE!

But life is filled with all kinds of uncertainties, from small things like what to have for breakfast, to big things like what will the future hold. Uncertainty feels scary and for many of us, the anxiety we feel over the unknowns of life, can make us hesitant, even second guessing our daily decisions. Over time, the weight of languishing in our fears and doubts leaves us exhausted, stuck in a cycle of defeat rather than the joy-filled-life we were meant to live.

In January 2015, my husband and I announced we were leaving our beloved Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN, to plant Hope City Church in Indianapolis, IN. On top of leaving and planting a church, my oldest son was a few short months away from graduating from high school. Every facet of my life was about to change. The uncertainty of how my life was going to look after leaving my life in Nashville, as well as the gut wrenching process of launching a child into the world, almost broke me.

But instead of breaking, Jesus met me in my
fear and disbelief. When I felt like I was drowning in the vagueness of my future, paralyzed to fully engage in the life I was currently living, God was faithful. God took my fragile, grieving heart and gave me perspective to see uncertainty as a beautiful invitation to grow in my faith.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

Throughout Hebrews 11, several verses start out with “by faith”. Story after story of people faithfully stepping-out into their own uncertainties to find a faithful God. When we get honest with God about our fears over a future we can’t see, he meets us, draws us close and whispers “trust me”. And each time we trust him, our faith grows. “By faith” we unlock our anxiety and replace it with peace. We unlock our fears and replace them with joy. Then, we are free to live a peace and joy-filled life with our God who from generation to generation, is faithful yesterday, today and forever!