Which way is up?

My times are in your hands (Psalm 31:15).

Every generation has lived with uncertainty; no one knows what the future holds. During the Great Depression, parents wondered how they would feed their children. During World War Two, countless people wondered if their loved ones in uniform would return home alive. During the 1950s, most Americans lived in fear of nuclear attack. In the 1960s, older citizens worried that the youth of this country were losing their morals. In the 1970s, it no longer seemed as if you could trust the government. In the 1980s, everyone was terrified of a new disease called AIDS. These days we worry about terrorists, the economy, and the environment.

Everyone struggles with uncertainty. Will the person you married still love you when you are old and gray? Will your children have lives that are safe and happy? Is your job secure? Do you have enough saved up for retirement? Will you get cancer or end up in a wheelchair? Will you get the chance to do everything that you’ve always wanted to, before you die?

Uncertainty can result in many sleepless nights. When your life isn’t going well, how do you decide whether to make a change, or be patient and see if things get better? When you are wrestling with a big decision, how confident are you that you have thought everything through carefully? Do you worry about how your children will turn out when they’ve grown up? Do you wonder if the way you lived your life will leave a positive impact on the world? It’s hard to find joy when your head is filled these kinds of questions and doubts. It’s like being a man who dives into the water at night; with no sunlight coming down from above, he gets disoriented and can’t find the surface. When his lungs start burning with a need for air, he panics and makes his situation even more dangerous. That’s what life is like when you don’t know which way is up.

My friend, you can have peace of mind. You don’t have to struggle with worry and confusion. God assures us that the future is in His hands. Our Lord tells us what is right and what is wrong. Through the Bible, our heavenly Father shines the light of truth into our lives, revealing the way to happiness. Whatever uncertainties plague your thoughts, God’s Word offers hope and clarity. God’s Word is truth—you can be certain of that.