Many today are worried about the future – and understandably so – given the state of the world, the country, and in many cases their own personal circumstances. And it would be good, therefore, to know what was going to happen tomorrow, so as to plan accordingly.
But we can’t.
And neither would we be able to solve the problems that we face today, even if we did know what we were going to face tomorrow.
Which is why it makes absolute sense to trust the one who is referred to in the Bible as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. [Revelation 21:6]
For He is the one who stands at the start of history just as surely as He stands at its conclusion – and therefore knows both its beginning and its end.
Furthermore, we can be confident that such a one exists, not least because of the Christmas story. Because it confirms the fact, fulfilling as it does, countless predictions that could only have been made by someone who, standing outside of time, knows from ancient days the things that have not yet taken place. [Isaiah 46:10]
So to mention just three that relate to Jesus’ birth, it was predicted, through the Old Testament prophets of Isaiah,
Micah, and Hosea that He would be born of a virgin, in the town of Bethlehem, and subsequently be taken to Egypt. [Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Hosea 11:1]
I could go on about the many other prophecies that were later fulfilled, including those that foresaw Him being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver [Zechariah 11:12-13], put to death on a cross [Psalm 22], and subsequently being raised back to life [Psalm 16:10], but my point here is to make plain that there is indeed someone who knows the future and can therefore be trusted as the one who is in absolute control.
Consequently, whilst we are not guaranteed a trouble free existence, because He is a loving and all powerful God, one who wonderfully cares for us as His children, we do not need to be as fretful about the future as we so often find that we are.
Instead we can do what Jesus Himself did in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was so fearful of what would happen to Him the following day that He sweated blood – a rare medical phenomenon known as haematohidrosis that can be experienced by those under extreme physical or emotional distress. [Luke 22:44]
We too can take our anxieties to God.
And as we do so, though the things causing them may not be taken away, we will find ourselves able to face them, recognising that they remain, albeit unfathomably at times, part of His good and perfect will for our lives.
Because the God who plans the end, plans the means.
We are on our way home. And with our final destination certain, we can be confident of our safe arrival, no matter how frightening or difficult the route He has chosen for us to get there.
And confident too of His presence with us as we travel. [Hebrews 13:5]
And so, thankful for yesterday, and content with today, we can look forward to tomorrow, confident that He will carry us through all the fearful experiences we may yet have to face.
Because not only is He able to help us far more than we can ever ask or imagine, He is absolutely guaranteed to do so too – though not necessarily in the way we would like. [Ephesians 3:20]
For that is the unchanging nature of our all knowing God. [Hebrews 13:8]
To read Day 21 from 2023, click here
To read Day 21 from 2023, click here
Some musings 