Fear Of The Future | Northstar Church

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:12-14.

In the book of Jeremiah, we read about how the people of God had been captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and taken into captivity in Babylon. In their eyes, their future looked bleak and scary. They had no idea if they would ever get to go back home or what would happen to them while they were in Babylon. Would families be split up? Would they be abused and tortured? Would they be slaves? What would the future hold? In chapter 29 we find a letter from Jeremiah encouraging the people who were in exile with the truth that God will rescue them.

The question for each of us is, can God be trusted with our future? Most Christians would answer that question with a definitive yes. But each time we struggle with letting go of our agendas to follow Christ, we are asking if we can trust God to navigate the future successfully. The bottom line is we can trust God.

Through all of Scripture God shows us who He is, what He is like, and what He does. He tells us that He is all-powerful; He can do things that we can never do on our own. He is loving and kind. He is faithful. He has a plan. We are called to be faithful in the little things, with the little things, for the little things right now, and trust God with the rest. We are where we are when we are for a reason. God has placed us here now. Instead of being of feeling fear, take comfort in the fact that “…every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16). and “the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

If you have ever worried about your future, wondered how to prepare, or feared that you might miss God’s calling on your life, hold fast to these truths and remember — you are where you are for a reason. Press on where God has placed you. He is using where you are and your circumstances this moment as a training ground for the future. Ask yourself these questions: are you willing to do your best and pour yourself out wherever you are right now? Are you willing to stop being distracted by all of the “what ifs” of the future and trust God?

We can prepare for our futures by being the people God has called us to be in our present life circumstances and, by faith, leave the rest in His ever-capable hands.

That is the best way to prepare for the future. Yes, none of us knows what will happen in the coming year. But the Bible also assures us God knows, and that we can trust Him. In fact, He has declared “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10 ESV). As Christians, we possess a hope that is unshakable.

Discussion Questions

If you were able to know one thing about the future, what would it be?
What can we do this week to trust and accept God’s plan for the future?