The gospel provides freedom from the fear of the unknown.
People generally resist change because we fear the unknown. Why else would an abused spouse choose to stay with someone who routinely hurts her instead of venturing out on her own away from danger?
We fear what we do not know because it makes us feel vulnerable and out of control.
Do we take the new better paying job or stay with the one we have, which seems familiar and secure? Do I risk marrying the one I love, or stay in relationship limbo out of fear that the marriage may fail? Should we have another child, even if we are not positive we can “afford” it?
Fear of the unknown is another reason people feel so confused and frightened when unpredictable bad things happen for no apparent reason. It is why we are so prone to assign blame for tragedies, when there was none.
We want to be able to predict the future and control it, but God does not allow for that. In fact, he wants us to become comfortable in being uncomfortable. He wants us to trust him in our uncertainty and fear.
Albert Smith wrote the familiar hymn, I Know Who Holds the Future.
I know who holds the future , And I know he holds my hand;
With God things don’t just happen ev’rything by Him is planned.
So as I face tomorrow with its problems large and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles, Give to Him my all!
These words are based on one of the most foundational of all Bible doctrines, the sovereignty of God. I wrote an article devoted entirely to this truth, entitled The Unexpected Key to Happiness. I encourage you to read it.
Faith in God’s loving sovereignty is the key to happiness.
This is based somewhat on the following verse and other related verses that agree with it.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Jesus believed this, which is proved by the way he lived and the words he spoke. If Jesus believed that his Father is absolutely sovereign and nothing happens outside his will, we should believe it, too. Another way to put this is that, even though God is not the author of evil, he bends and shapes evil to conform to his purposes and makes everything, even bad things, work for our good and his glory. Otherwise, he would not be sovereign at all.
We need not fear the unknown because God will make it work for us, no matter what. Another reason we need not fear the unknown is because God is always with us. (John 14:16)
When the Lord challenged Moses to confront the most powerful ruler in the world, to assuage his fear and uncertainty, God promised him, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) When David fled for his life from King Saul, and his future seemed very uncertain, he wrote these beautiful words that confirmed his trust in the ever present sovereign God.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NASB)
As Thomas and the other disciples contemplated their uncertain future, Jesus comforted them with these words.
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6 (NLT)
Even though we do not know the way, the Way knows us. He promised us that he will be with us, keep us, and guide us. The future is in his hands, and so are we.
No matter what unknown confronts us, the answer to our fear is always the same. God is with us and controls our destinies. Whether we live fearlessly or timidly largely depends on whether or not we believe this. Which is it going to be for you and me?
