Have you been plagued by any of these questions: How are we going to afford college? What if I don’t get the job? Why can’t I get pregnant? Do we have enough for retirement?
Future stress comes from a fear of the future. Rather than trusting God’s vision for your life, you worry that it’s all up to you.
It seems to come naturally for us to fear the future. Have we done enough, have we saved enough, did we give our kids the advantage over others? It’s rooted in the fallacy of control. We put the pressure on ourselves to have to do it all to make it happen.
But the Bible says that we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow. If God takes care of the flowers and the birds, He definitely has the ability to take care of us.
Hannah was distraught that she was barren. Mocked by others, she wondered if her chance would ever come.
1 Samuel 1:1-11 There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph[a] in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim. 2 Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.3 Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas. 4 On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. 5 And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion[b] because the Lord had given her no children. 6 So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. 7 Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle.[c] Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.[e]
Hannah didn’t understand God’s timing and plan. She doubted that God was big enough to give her a future. But once that prayer was answered, she realized God did have a plan for her. Samuel goes on to be a priest and prophet who plays a pivotal role in the nation of Israel.
Here’s the question. Do we trust that God has a plan for us? Do we trust that it’s a good plan or that we need to tell God what to do?
The antidote is patience. Insteading of focusing on the story you’re writing, give God room to show you the plan he’s already prepared for you.
Psalm 139:13-16 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Three P’s of patience
- Prep the soil of your heart ( remind yourself ways God has provided in the past. Be humble.
- Prepare- take steps toward your goals
- Permit God to lead by responding to doors opening and closing
