FACING THE SCARY FUTURE
In all my years as a Christian, I’ve found one of the most difficult challenges in life is facing the unknown, scary possibilities, and often probabilities in our future. It is certainly true that our minds can envision, invent and project all kinds of scary life scenarios that overwhelm our senses, filling us with doubt and anxiety. I am certainly not immune to this myself.
On the other hand, I can say from actual lived experience walking with God for almost half a century, Wow, have I ever had to walk through some scary stuff! I still remember like yesterday the terrible car accident Kathy and I had in November of 1977. It was devastating, destroyed our car completely, and injured Kathy severely. I still remember the fear coursing through my body as we drove in the ambulance in that blizzard, wondering if Kathy would live. The dread I felt at the thought of calling her parents to tell them their daughter was in the hospital, as they already had such a low opinion of me then. I remember losing my job, having no car, looking for months for work, and wondering how in the world I would provide for my wife and kids! For years facing financial uncertainties, and unrelenting stress. I remember years pastoring, finding myself the object of one vicious attack after another, thinking, what’s next? When will the next one come? I remember my three severe car accidents, each destroying my car, each could have easily taken my life. I remember my daughter’s illness, the hospital and doctor visits, the constant uncertainty, the immense perplexities, and the cascade of problem after problem after problem till, like Pavlov’s dog, I’d begin to shudder at the thought of another hospital visit. Then finally it was over! She was engaged, then married. Only three months after the wedding she was slammed into by a drunk driver, injuring her severely and setting her health back yet again. There’s been trial after trial my adult children have had to face, and each weighed heavily upon my heart. Each was completely unexpected. Then 2018 happened, it was unimaginable and crushing! My entire world was burned to the ground. Filling me with a sense of dread every single day. Then last year as a result of this corrupt government’s policies I lost almost 38% of the value of my investments set aside to help provide for our later years. All of this, very scary stuff.
As we begin this new year, many of you are facing your own scary possibilities and probabilities that will unfold as this new year passes. For some it will be scary financial things, for others, it will be frightening marital challenges. For others, it will be scary things related to your health or your parenting. Things that you may have to face with your child, you never imagined. Through the years I’ve learned and observed that no matter how righteous you are, or how much you love the Lord, none of us can completely escape the brokenness of this world or all of the tragedies or difficulties that afflict human beings.
Here is the most critical lesson I’ve learned. It saved my life in every one of the great trials and frightening circumstances of my life. This alone keeps me going forward even now as I face more frightening uncertainties of the future.
God does not stop being God! No matter how bad things get. No matter how much you lose. No matter how many friends forsake or betray you. No matter how much your health declines. No matter how many things you own, break. No matter how many car accidents you have. No matter if loved ones misjudge or abandon you. No matter if your marriage comes apart. No matter what slander or lies others tell about you. No matter what injustices are done to you. No matter, no matter, no matter what. God does not stop being who He is, ever! He will be faithful to the promises he made. He will not forsake or betray you. He will not abandon you. He will not throw you away. He will not turn you out. He will never misjudge you. He is greater than all your friends. He is greater than all the governments and powers that be. He is able to defy all the market forces of this world. He is able to circumvent all physical realities, calling into being at any moment what does not presently exist. God is already in all of our tomorrows, embedded in all the scary days and circumstances that lay ahead. Trust him, cling to him, put all your faith and hope in him. Run to him, Talk to him, over and over and over and over again. Trust Him. Trust Him. Trust Him. You may be battered, bruised, traumatized and scarred, BUT God will bring you through to the other side.
20 years ago I wrote this song. It has been absolutely true.
Waiting To Be
You know the beginning, the end
You know what’s coming ahead
You see the future of me
You’re there waiting to be
You know the path that I take
You know the choices I make
You hold the future of me
You’re there waiting to be
You see the dangers for me
You’re there watching over me
You are the future of me
You’re there waiting to be
You’re there waiting to be
You’re there waiting to be, God
You’re there waiting to be, God
You’re there waiting to be, GOD!
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling