"In moments of loss or anxiety, we may feel broken, as though life has lost its purpose. Often, we forget the promises God made to us before we encountered hardship."
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Anxiety is a natural part of being human, often surfacing when we find ourselves struggling to make the right decision. This internal conflict can stem from a lack of information, data, or knowledge, leaving us uncertain about the potential consequences of our choices. The process of decision-making involves reasoning, and as humans, we tend to foresee possible outcomes even before taking action, which can intensify anxiety. This unease grows further when we are faced with taking risks, as the fear of uncertainty becomes more pronounced.
Anxiety may also emerge when someone or something we've long depended on is suddenly removed from our lives. This shift can leave us feeling exposed, vulnerable, and insecure. The absence of what once provided stability leads to an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty, often resulting in feelings of sadness, sorrow, or emotional paralysis as we grapple with the loss.
A Biblical Example: Abraham and Lot
A biblical example of this can be seen in Abraham’s relationship with Lot. Although Lot was not Abraham’s biological son, Abraham cared for him as though he were, perhaps even seeing him as the heir to his inheritance. When Lot and Abraham parted ways, Abraham likely experienced sorrow, feeling as though he had lost something dear to him. In that moment of emotional distress and uncertainty, God stepped in to remind Abraham of His promises and reassured him of the bigger plan. Like Abraham, we often face situations where we feel we've lost control or are losing something we value. It is in these times that we, too, need God’s reassurance to remind us of His faithfulness.
Trusting God’s Faithfulness in Loss and Anxiety
In moments of loss or anxiety, we may feel broken, as though life has lost its purpose. We may forget the promises God made to us before hardship came into our lives. Like Abraham, we might struggle to see things clearly, feeling the weight of uncertainty. However, God never abandons us. His promises remain, and He continues to reassure us of His divine plan, offering a perspective that goes beyond the limitations of our own understanding. As Scripture says, "God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). God had to realign Abraham’s vision with His greater purpose, and He does the same for us when we feel lost or uncertain.
The Challenge of Trusting God Fully
The real challenge, however, is learning to fully trust God. While we often talk about trusting Him, it’s possible that we’ve never fully experienced what it means to rely on Him in every aspect of our lives. Saying that God is trustworthy means that we’ve tested and seen His faithfulness firsthand. Yet, many times, our lack of experience in fully trusting God can prevent us from making progress in our faith journey. Without tangible experiences of His faithfulness, we may struggle to believe that things will change or improve.
However, when we’ve experienced God’s trustworthiness—whether once, twice, or multiple times—we begin to develop genuine trust in Him. In that place of trust, our anxieties can be calmed, and we come to realize that God will not allow evil to overwhelm us. Though we are called to resist evil, we do so not in our strength but through God’s power. The forces of evil are strong, but God’s strength enables us to stand firm. The battle is not just between us and darkness but between light and darkness—and light always prevails.
God Acts on Our Behalf
"God will not stand by passively while we face difficulties. He will act on our behalf".
The real question is: Do we trust Him? Have we truly experienced Him as trustworthy? If we have, then we know that no matter the storm, He is faithful to bring us through.
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