I was looking back through some pictures from earlier this year… mid-March to be exact.
My husband and I were enjoying the less-busy life. We had selfies of us with our homemade, mini-charcuterie board (aka deli meat and cheese), enjoying the beautiful weather, along with the complete freedom to do nothing.
That was before “shelter-at-home” had the sting it does now.
Now that we are into month 4 of “the corona problem” as my dad calls it, the fun has faded and fatigue has set in, along with a big blanket of uncertainty.
We have no idea where we are going in the days ahead. Most of us have never experienced uncertainty like this. Who knew it would be this heavy?
In Genesis, we read the story of Abram, who would one day be referred to as the father of our faith. It starts out like this, “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I WILL show you.’…So Abram went.” (Genesis 12:1,4a NIV)
Not many people get in a car without any idea of where they are going. No one gets on a plane and tells the pilot to “surprise” them with the destination. We all want to know where we are going and when we don’t know, we feel unsettled.
We don’t get that sense from Abram. Armed with his people and a promise from God, he left everything he knew to enter the world of uncertainty.
Later, we see this same man, now referred to as Abraham, in a completely different set of circumstances. This time, he knew exactly where he was going and what he was supposed to do. God told him to take his only son, Isaac, and offer him on the altar. This wasn’t just any son. This was the promised son. The son who would pave the way for Abraham to become the father of many.
Abraham was certain of the plan. So, his response to his servants is surprising, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:5 NIV)
And they did.
It takes faith to step out into the unknown. It also takes faith to trust God’s promises when it looks like He changed His mind. At this point in 2020, most of us have experienced both.
God’s word reassures us, “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16 NLT)
In the midst of our uncertainty, God knows what our tomorrow holds. We can be certain of that.
~ Anu
