Life is full of uncertainties. Life is full of contingencies. This realisation is one thing that unsettles us as we mature, leaving the seeming certainty of childhood into the uncertain waters that cover most of adulthood. As humans, we want to be sure of almost everything. We want to accurately predict outcomes, and when we find people, organisations, websites or even software that can do that, we are willing to pay for their services. Watch the Youtube ads, see the most-invited TV guests, and you’d agree that the people who draw more crowds and have a great sphere of influence are those with a reputation for predicting tomorrow’s outcome, whether in economics, politics, science or technology or spirituality.
This attitude, however, didn’t begin today; it was there even before the coming of Jesus, for men sought prophets and diviners to help them with the uncertainties of life. Recall that Saul consulted the witch of Endor because he wanted to speak with Samuel seeing that God had refused to answer him despite all the methods he employed; Jehoshaphat asked the king of Israel if there was a prophet for enquiries before heading for war. In fact, in the days of Jesus, the Jews asked him in Matthew 24:3, “when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” They wanted to be certain and not be lost in guesswork.
The same is prevalent in our day. Whether as false prophets, diviners, soothsayers, weather forecasters, astrologers or statistics, we quickly employ their services. Although many of these methods have proven to be unreliable, we still pay to have them because we can’t deal with uncertainties.
However, there’s a better way that I have found to handle this. Instead of getting worried about things beyond my control or attempting to control every variable as a man, I simply go to the one that doesn’t have contingencies. I go to Him that is beyond certain about everything that has happened, is happening and will ever happen in my life. I hand over my past, present and future into his hands and trust in his direction.
If He desires to let me know what will happen tomorrow, I thank Him. If He desires to keep them sealed, I still thank Him because he has reasons for classifying that piece of information from me. But in all, I am certain in Him and don’t go worrying about everything.
That Person is Jesus. That Person is the Holy Spirit. That Person is God. The Blessed Trinity
Job 28:24: “For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.”
Psalms 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield: mine heart trusted in him, and I was helped: therefore mine heart shall rejoice, and with my song will I praise him.”