Uncertain Times

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. – James 4:13-14 NKJV.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 NKJV.

Yesterday, Bill Jordan bought a new iPad for a friend in Canada at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colorado. The bag was heavy and he had the cord wrapped around his fingers. Just as he was exiting the mall a man grabbed the bag ripping it away; and along with the bag, the flesh of two-thirds of Jordan’s little finger, which had to be amputated. Surprising! Shocking! 

We have all heard of the Icelandic volcano that has spewed ash into the atmosphere, and stranded all of the travelers. Who could have predicted that such a thing would happen? For the stranded travelers and their families, it was surprising! Shocking! For the airlines that have lost billions of dollars it was more of the same.

In May 2007, Amy Teresa Ricks of Utah, promising her husband a surprise, blindfolded him, and then hit him in the head with a hammer. Her husband suffered minor injuries and has recovered. Amy is on probation and must do community service. They were separated at the time of the attack, and there has apparently not been a reconciliation. The attack was surprising and shocking!  

Those reports are just a few of the surprising and shocking things that have happened to humans in recent days. In the past, we know there were always countless surprising and shocking things happening. Who could have predicted the San Francisco Earthquake or other great disasters of history? It will be more of the same in the next few weeks, the next few months, the next few years, and for as long as human history is allowed to unfold.

The human race has lived, is living, and will be living in uncertain times. We make our plans, but rarely do our plans turn out exactly as we planned. How do you cope with the uncertainty of life? How do you cope, how do you keep going when your plan comes apart at the seams? How do you cope, how do you keep going when what is precious to you is suddenly ripped away? How do you cope, how do you keep going when life hits you in the head with a hammer?

There is someone who wants to help you make it through the uncertainties of life. However, we have to trust in Him, believe in Him, before that help is available to us. God says to those that love Him, “I am with you…I will strengthen you…I will help you…I will uphold you.”

When you are facing the uncertainties of life, remember your God, your Lord says, “Fear not.”

(How do you cope with the uncertainties of Life?)