What lies ahead...
The author of Ecclesiastes wrote this a long, long time ago:
6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ec 8:6–8). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Messiah Jesus echoed this in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6:
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 6:34). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
So, don't worry about the future because we can't know it and can't do anything about it anyway. That's unfortunate, right? It is as if the Scriptures want us to be focused on the present and living hopeful for God's hand in the future.
Easy to say but hard to live out!
I don't know about you, but, when I get overwhelmed at what the future holds, I am reminded of the ancient call to action from the prophet Micah:
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mic 6:8). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
That's a good plan for me and you!
Here's an excerpt from a devotional I read today on this:
We all struggle with the future and the vast uncertainty it creates in our minds. It’s rarely the present that keeps us awake at night; it’s our concerns about what will happen if the present changes for better or worse.
The only thing we can do is to be people who choose to follow the good—the good God—and work toward the overthrowing of evil and the battle against corruption. But we must, along the way, realize that worry and anxiety will only paralyze, not help.
Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012). Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Lexham Press.
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