Peace In Uncertain Times

What does it mean, “peace that passes understanding”?  As we pursue our theme this year, we will look at circumstances where, without God, peace would be impossible. This month, we consider peace in times of uncertainty. 

As I began the thinking process for this article, a memory came to me that is highly personal.  Several years ago, my sister was gravely ill and underwent two major surgeries.  Both involved long hospital stays and a lot of suffering.  I was with her as much as I could be, but to do so required me to be far from home - away from my own environment and support system.  It was difficult to watch her suffer.  I’m not complaining or boasting, just describing an atmosphere where I felt tired and weak. 

Every day, as I took the elevator to go from her room to the cafeteria, or to get out for some air, I rode past the floor that held the Trauma Unit.  Every day I would ride the elevator with a new set of family members coming to be with someone who had a medical emergency or had been in an accident. I could tell which ones they were even before they pushed the button for the third floor.  They looked numbed and stunned.  In my own emotionally weakened state, I thought about the fact that none of them had begun their day expecting to be exiting a hospital elevator to see a loved one in some level of medical trauma.  

I began to think about how none of us know exactly what will happen - not just in our future, but in the course of our day!  How do we then begin our day with confidence and purpose rather than in fear of the many bad things that could happen? This didn’t deeply shake my faith, but it did feel like I was losing my footing.  In some recent physical therapy I had for a bum knee, they had me stand on a BOSU Balance trainer.  It’s like half of a ball, the bottom lies flat on the floor, and the patient stands on the top of the dome, but it partially gives way, so you are constantly having to adjust your balance.  This general sense of dread and fear of the unknown was making me feel like I was standing on a wobbly ball.

There are other less dramatic times when we are faced with uncertainty of what will happen. We have long range thoughts about the future, such as, will I marry one day?  Will I be able to have children? What will we do as we age and need help?

Sometimes there are immediate stresses like the real possibility of losing a job.  Or the serious illness of a loved one. We sometimes hear the phrase, “food insecurity.”  That means there are times we are not sure how we will be able to feed our family.  We’re frustrated trying to raise and educate our children in a world where technology changes before we can adapt and prepare.  There are trends in our nation that seem to be reflecting a people turning their back on God.  How can I possibly find peace in constant uncertainty?

Just before His death, Jesus spent an intimate evening with the chosen twelve apostles who were about to have their world turned upside down.  He began to talk, telling them, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.” He proceeds with both promises and premises. He tells them He is going to prepare a place for them and they will know the way to Him.  He tells them “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He promises to send “The Helper,” the “Spirit of Truth” who will teach them all things. He promises that He will not leave them as orphans. 

And what more comforting words could He offer than “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” (All from John 14-16).

In a matter of hours, the apostles will not understand what’s happening in the world around them, but they will know the Father, the Son, and soon, the Holy Spirit, and in time “their sorrow will be turned to joy.”  The answer to fear of the unknown is faith in what we know. 

One apostle present on that intimate evening was John, described as the apostle Jesus loved.  He sat with his head against the Lord’s chest.  Hours later, he would run away in fear.  Hours after that, he would stand with Mary, near the cross, watching the Savior suffer and die. Days later, he would see the risen Christ and within weeks would be preaching the gospel message.  John understood the spiritual threat of uncertainty and the solution of absolute faith and trust in God.

When I feel unsettled by uncertainty, I go to John’s first letter.  Here, John addresses me, and the Christians he was writing to, as his children.  I can almost feel him standing in front of me, looking me in the eye, his hands on my shoulders, as he begins to reassure me and help me plant my feet on solid ground.

He presents first things first.  Jesus, who was with God, came to earth in the flesh. John, and the other apostles, heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him.  Through Him, we have fellowship with God and the possibility of eternal life.  Believing this together is joy (1 John 1:1-4).

Everything John says, he says clearly and with no room for doubt.  Reading from Chapter 1, starting in verse 5:

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship 
with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, 
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is 
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I may not know what will happen later today, but I know those words are true all day every day.  I may not know my future on earth, but I know His will, and I know how to walk in light.

I could go on and on, and this essay would be far too long, so I challenge you to open your Bible to 1 John with a highlighter or notebook and pen in hand, and look for all the things that John tells us we “know.”  John knows that there are people working to deceive the Christians of his day by undermining their faith in Christ.  He wants his children to be assured of their salvation as they walk in Christ.  He wants them to stand confident in the Lord’s coming. What uncertainty has more power in my life than the knowledge that I will be with the Lord when He comes?

You can read about the false doctrine of Gnosticism that was challenging Christians’ faith in Jesus, and it will give more context to John’s letter.  But I also find it valuable to put that ancient false teaching out of my mind and realize that today God’s enemy, Satan, will use anything he can to shake my footing. Satan wants fear of the unknown to throw me off balance. God wants me to stand firm.

The theory behind the balance ball used in therapy is that the constant adjusting strengthens the very muscles that keep us balanced walking around.  I need to know that I have not been promised certain knowledge of what daily life on earth will bring me. That can be frightening.  John tells me that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).  Continually dealing with uncertainty by going to God’s word will strengthen my faith.  And John tells me “this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith” (1 John 5:4).

I usually look for a memorable way to conclude my articles.  I will gladly give that task to John this time as he ends his letter:  “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20).