Anxious about the Future
"I want to know what's next God.
I can't stand not being able to see what's ahead
I like to have some sense of understanding
But I get it! Is that really faith if I knew everything?
I know your word says to trust you with all my heart and not lean on my understanding,
But I can't help but wonder.
It seems like life is going down hill, so what's your plan?
I need a sign. I need wisdom.
I know. I know. I just need to relax and trust you."
Everyone cringes over the lack of knowing what's next. Follower of Jesus or not. It drives us up the wall. We seek God anxiously for clarity, wisdom, and direction and it feels like you're not getting anywhere. The promises that God spoke over you suddenly seems blurry and feels like everything is drying up around you. You have to hold on to your faith, but you can't help to admit that you're anxious about how God is actually going to show up in your life. The next season seems so far away. You make up scenarios & visualize the best way to get some sort of possibility into your next. I don't know if that may be you. But it most certainly is me.
I have such a broad imagination and I'm training myself not to treat it as a curse. Because to be honest, it can try and get in the way of allowing God to truly blow my mind with his plans. God has shared promises that I'm so excited for, that all of a sudden I feel anxious about. Why? Because I didn't realize that it is in the in-between transitions that God grows your faith, develops your character, and molds/shapes you. The in-between is the place where we're tempted to think about the "how" when God is most interesting in your refining. See, God shares the promise..we get excited..but we naively dismiss the process to the promise. Yikes. Could that be why we're all anxious?
We don't feel like sitting and receiving. We don't feel like enduring and growing. We want the promise now. We're ready to see it happen. "You have a bright future for me Lord, you said so yourself, but why is it taking so long?" "What am I suppose to do right now? "Can you give me the next step?" "I can't see what you're doing and it's freaking me out?!"
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
But what does it look like not to depend on your own understanding?
Does that mean not to ask God too many questions?
Does that mean not to think about it?
How do we know we're trusting the Lord with our whole hearts?
Is being concerned an indication that I'm not trusting the Lord?
I know. These are questions I still ask myself today too. We want to trust God but have you ever asked him what does it look like? When it comes to trusting God, I don't think it's by a matter of feeling, I believe it's the matter of knowing him. Do you know that he is all knowing? Do you believe that he is working all things out for your good? Do you know that he has a hope and a future for you? Maybe those profound truths aren't enough to calm your anxious soul. You feel you work well with having to know every step. Maybe you're the planner and it's bothers you not to have a plan together. Its like God is interfering with your normalcy of needing to know all the time.
In your walk of faith, God has a way of putting you in situations that requires you to trust him. I can only speak for myself in saying that he has exhausted all possibilities as to how I thought he was going to show up in my life. I got upset countless times thinking God was going to show up one way and wind-up showing up in another. It was his way of reminding me that I don't know his every move. I'm not suppose to. It requires trust. God will surprise you in a heartbeat, answering that prayer in such a space where you didn't think he would.
I don't know about you, but this pandemic has seriously put my faith into place. I'm learning to live in the "I don't know" and being okay with it. It's very hard and isn't comfortable at all. But it's going to be okay. If you're anxious about your future, I want to share the two main encouragements that is helping even myself right now.
1. Practice remembering what God has already done for you and how far you've came.
You wanna know the greatest way to bless the heart of God? Is to remember. Remember that he is good. Remember that he's brought you from a long way. God does a lot for his children. He does more than we could ever think of and when I remember that, I would say "You should be ashamed of yourself for how you've dismissed what God has done for you" but God doesn't like when I condemn myself (so don't beat yourself up) just take a minute to pause and remember. Allow his presence to reassure you that he never left even when it feels like he left you in a dry place. He's still working. He's still thinking about you and strategically handling things that you couldn't handle for yourself. Your journey isn't over by one season. He has more in store. But I believe he create space for us to intentionally remember because it's important. It's there, peace begins to well within your soul.
Remember that you have to put it into practice in order to remain within God's rest. The enemy is quick to snatch your peace away when he sees that you're living in the present grateful. He wants to make you anxious about your future, but resist. Tell him to go sit down somewhere and journal away with what God has done for you.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
2. Get to know him better.
Our anxiety may have something to do with a lack of intimacy with Jesus. Maybe your relationship with Jesus is flourishing right now but you still feel anxious sometimes. That's okay. Jesus isn't asking us to walk in 110% faith everyday, he knows we doubt within the moment. (hints: peter.) But he also wants to teach us how to rest and allow this season to help you get to know him more.
My relationship with Jesus has grown so much because I didn't know what else to do with this season but to turn to the one who knew more about it than me. When you're anxious about what's next, it's the best time to pursue Jesus like never before. He creates the space for you to get to know who he is. When all is lost and possibilities are exhausted, he's standing right there waiting for you to turn to him.
I can hear him saying "Coooommme on, I know you're tired. I've been watching you strive and wear yourself out trying to figure out what I am doing. But come sit with me awhile and rest. I got you."
Jesus is so sweet. He cares about you and doesn't intend on leading you down any wrong paths nor failing you. That next season will be so beautiful because of the growth you decided to take upon in this season of waiting. Just think, this next time around, you're more closer to Christ than ever. You'll be more strengthen to endure and persevere, and you'll always have the testimonies behind what you're currently going through. Today, surrender your need to know and be encouraged that the one who created you is SURE about your future.
SCRIPTURES FOR ANXIETY:
"When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." Psalm 94:19
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." Proverbs 12:25
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27
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