Facing Life’s Unknowns

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:1-6

A delayed promotion, an unreached goal, a broken relationship - some of life’s inexplicable turns. Many of the saints mentioned in Hebrews 11 knew firsthand about life’s unknowns. Many others also had the opportunity to witness God’s hand at work as He rolled back the waters of the Red Sea, defeated enemy armies, and proved faithful when times of trial and tribulation struck. The test of faith is not merely in trusting but in trusting God when all hope has disappeared.

One of the ways God tests our faith is by allowing life’s unknowns to invade our lives. Samuel anointed David as king over Israel. Yet nothing was mentioned about having to wait years before he sat on Israel’s throne. Thanks to life’s unknowns, David was forced to leave his family and friends and live like a common criminal on the run from a jealous and mentally impaired king. At any point he could have proclaimed his frustration, but David went beyond bitterness and self pity to claim the goodness of God. He realized God’s ways were not the ways of man.

All of life’s unknown are perfectly within God’s sovereign control. If He has give you a promise, cling to it. He will do exactly what He has said He will do (1 Thess. 5:24).

Eyes of faith see God even when darkness tries to invade the light.