Dealing With Uncertainty in Life
As human beings we crave knowing what’s next. Dealing with uncertainty is almost harder than anything else. If we just KNOW what it is we are facing and how long we have to be strong for–it would be easier to endure.
But more often than not we have no earthly clue what’s next.
When I was a social worker one of my young clients (Iβll call her Lisa) asked a lot of questions. She was only five, so I couldn’t really fault her for it and her favorite question seemed to be βWhatβs next?β
One day I promised her we would make cookies, one of her all-time favorite things to do. For days we talked about making cookies and eating cookies, and then finally the big day came.
We were elbow deep in cookie dough, when she piped up βWhatβs after this, Katie?β
I laughed– because Iβm used to this questionβand told her βLisa, we are baking now, this is what we are doing now; you donβt need to worry about anything else.β
She needed constant reminders to be present, to be a kid, and trust βwhatβs nextβ to me.
I donβt lose patience with her questions. If anything, it makes me sad that she is constantly bracing for the next change and questioning if I have thought ahead.
On the same day of our great cookie baking lesson, my husband and I were waiting on a phone call that we thought would tell us βWhatβs Next?β in our lives.
Instead of getting the answer we were looking for we were told: βkeep waiting.β As I struggled with anger and frustration and uncertainty over not getting my βwhatβs nextβ question answered, I realized how alike little Lisa and I were.
“For this moment, you are where I want you to be.”
God spoke these words over my own impatience in dealing with uncertainty.
My human tendency to rush ahead and eliminate uncertainty might help me momentarily feel more at ease, but it doesnβt help me develop trust, patience, or perseverance.
5 Bible Verses About Dealing With Uncertainty
- βBut those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.β -Isaiah 40:31
- “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” -Hebrews 11:1
- So do not worry, saying, βWhat shall we eat?β or βWhat shall we drink?β or βWhat shall we wear?β For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:31-34
- We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice for we trust in his holy name.May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. -Psalm 33:20-22
- Many are the plans in a personβs heart, but it is the Lordβs purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
If God told me βwhatβs nextβ I would probably become fixated on planning and preparing and miss what He wants me to experience now. I may mix the ways He wants to use uncertainty in my life to grow my certainty in Him and His character.
If I told little Lisa that right after we were finished baking cookies we were going to play outside she might have gotten so excited about playing that she overlooked the fun we were ha
ving creating cookies.
If you want to learn more about having hope in uncertainty check out my Bible Study Claiming Fresh Hope!
Worship Music to Encourage You in Uncertainty
But I’ve got a promise I can hold in the middle of the struggle
God, if you said it, You’ll perform it
May not be how I want You to
But here’s what I’ll do
β¦ I’m gonna wait on You.”
You light our way, God, You light our way
When evil is rising, You’re rising higher
With power to save, with power to save.
You keep hope alive, You keep hope alive
From the beginning to end, Your word never fails
You keep hope alive, because You are alive
Jesus, You are alive!
I hear your SOS, your SOS
In the middle of the darkest night
It’s true, I will rescue you”
It isnβt easy to relinquish our perception of control, but what peace and hope knowing that God holds our future!
What joy knowing that his gifts are more than we can ask or imagine!
What freedom in releasing our worries to Him and living in the moment to serve Him!
What love knowing that He has a plan and will never let us down.
What helps you deal with uncertainty?
Good post, Katie π
Thanks!
Great words, Katie, and well said. I love your blog!
Thanks Stacy! We need to get together the next time Nate and I are in the Chicago area!
Thanks for this… we're really waiting on some "what's nexts" right now too… great reminder.
Oh me too! Definitely a work in progress, but as long as we're "moving forward", right? π
I can totally relate–the waiting is so hard. Keep trusting it will all work out!
I have to confess, I'm a bit like your 'Lisa'. I need to work on it!