Remaining Hopeful in Uncertain Times

We are living in uncertain times with so much instability all across the world. The world is changing fast with globalization and automation. Many countries are being hit hard with economic woes and now we are facing a health crisis like we have not seen in our time. It would be very easy to be nervous and worried and in all honesty this is the normal reaction, yet as a Christian, I know there is hope despite all of these troubles we are facing.

What can we do in the midst of such troubles? As this world continues to spiral out of control, we need to turn our eyes and hearts to the one who has control. Make no mistake; we are in a war that we cannot see, as referenced in Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens”. It is so easy to get distracted and lost in things of this world, yet we forget this is a lost and fallen world that will always have troubles. Once sin entered the world, it has left a path of death and destruction that can only be defeated through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). We can have victory over this world through Christ Jesus, who paid the price for our sins.

As a believer in Christ, I try to remember that we are not citizens of this world, but we are children of God (Philippians 3:20). We are here on Earth for a passing moment and too often we forget this and become lost in things of this world. It is important to remember that God is in control and everything works according to His will (Romans 8:28). This is all good, but what do we do when things hit close to home, such as severe economic issues, health problems, and other afflictions. Far too often we have this impression that life will always be cozy and comfortable, yet this is far from the truth. Look at the disciples as only one died a natural death, and most of those who followed Christ experienced serious hardships. Yet those hardships help develop our faith and refine us (James 1:2-4). We need to always set our eyes to God and realize that even when things in this world look bleak, He is in control and is faithful to His own (1 Corinthians 1:9).

It is important to stay close to God in prayer. I notice that when my prayer life is suffering my eyes drift off Him, and I rely on my own strength. There is nothing more that creates a feeling of hopelessness than relying on your own hope and strength, in which you know you have no control over. Prayer is critical as God is faithful to answer prayer (James 5:16, 1 John 5:14-15, Matthew 7:7), and that we grow in our faith as we turn to God rather than ourselves. We must seek and turn our eyes to God as these troubles we are seeing are a harbinger of what is to come (Matthew 24:6-7, Luke 21:11). Instead of dwelling in the hopelessness of this world, we as believers must embrace the hope we have in Christ. The enemy likes to attack us when we are weak and are taking our eyes off of Him, which is why it is essential to walk with Christ and when we sin, we must confess our sins and continue to grow closer to Him. This relationship with the living God is what will help us overcome the world as we cannot do it ourselves, but we can through Him.

Although these are scary times full of much difficulty, we can have hope. We have hope through knowing God is in control and is sovereign, our identity is in Christ and the purpose he has planned for us, and that we can seek him through prayer and that he hears our prayers. It is easy to get anxious and depressed when we put our faith in this world as things are unstable at best and these things will never bring fulfillment, yet there is hope even in the darkest times and that hope is in Christ Jesus. If you are feeling uneasy about the times we are living in and the future, I urge you to read the scripture and seek Christ and open your hearts to the Holy Spirit who will move and transform.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We reach out to you now asking for your guidance and strength during these difficult times. Please pray for those afflicted by the corona virus as well as other ailments. We lift up those countries and people who are being hit hard with economic woes and ask that you provide. We ask that you help resolve the violent conflicts within countries. We pray that believers in you rally together and shine a like light a city on a hill. Please help people to see that in this world with so much chaos and turmoil, there is a hope and through all of this, help more people turn their lives over to you, through Christ Jesus.

Amen

References

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Matthew 24:6-7 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.