If I could wish for anything, I think I would ask for certainty. I like things to go as planned. I like my life to be organized and steady. I hate rollercoasters! So, I am a Merry-Go-Round kind of girl. I guess if I could pick, I’d ask for my life to be smooth and simple. But, we all know that life isn’t like that. We all have steep climbs and plunging drops. Divorce, death, job losses, bills, health issues, elections… the list is endless for all of us. In the last month, I have experienced stress and anxiety over a couple different changes. I didn’t sleep at all the night before the election. I found myself very worried about the outcome and what it would mean, specifically for New York and also for the rest of our country. I had a coworker retire and this week more changes were announced at my job.  There is a lot of uncertainty in the future.

That brings me back to what I anchor my hopes in. My hope is not in the next political leadership or in the corporate structure of my employer. My hope is solely in the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus.  One of my favorite verses, that I am blessed God has opened my heart to is Hebrews 1:3

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

In the midst of our struggles and uncertainty, we have a truth that grounds us. Christ Jesus upholds the universe and everything in it by His power. He has conquered the enemy and He has conquered death. The work has already been completed and He sits at the right hand of the Father. Do you see it? He isn’t in the throne room of heaven, wringing his hands and pacing back and forth. He is seated on His throne; the work is finished! David knew struggle. He was the youngest son of his father, which meant he was the least important. God anointed him to be the King of Israel, but Saul was the present King. Saul hunted David for years, pushing him into the wilderness to hide in caves. Yet, through those difficult years, David’s resolve didn’t waiver.  Psalm 62:5-8, David writes

“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock, and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”.

Circling back to Hebrews, I find it helpful. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. God the Father isn’t some angry vengeful monster whom Christ had to save us from. God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit, before the beginning of time, decided that you were worth saving. They decided that I was worth saving. They knew that you and I couldn’t save ourselves. They knew our sin was too great and our debt was too high and the only way for us to have our relationship restored was for Christ to pay for our sins with His own body.

I am not preaching wishful platitudes. When I find my heart squeezed in the vice of uncertainty, I breathe in and I ask Christ to fill me with His peace. I have a friend who teaches and she tells her kids to pray, “Peace. Peace. Jesus”. The peace of the Spirit isn’t something you can muster up by your own strength or willpower. It’s a surrender to the will of God and the knowledge of His nature. He alone holds the universe together by the power of His word. As you study and strive to know Him better, you will feel His spirit dwell within you in greater measure. And as you face struggles and uncertainty, He alone will reassure you, comfort you, and uphold you with His mighty hand.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by the 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 minds in Christ Jesus. – Amen

Philippians 4:4-7