Skip to main content

Certainty in the Midst of Uncertainty

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes” or however the saying goes.  I would beg to differ!

But first, it would probably be good to figure out what “certain” means.  Certain is defined as the quality of being reliably true.  That definition would also mean that an anticipated or scheduled event is definitely going to take place.

The opposite of certain is uncertain.  Things may or may not be true and events may or may not happen.  A clue to when things are uncertain is when we use words like “if”, “or”, “but”, and “maybe”. 

I recently read a verse in Jeremiah where certainty seems to be, well, certain:

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved.  For you are my praise.”  (Jer 17:14)

In this verse, certainty seems to be established by the use of the words “and” and “will”.  Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed.  There are no “ifs”, “ors”, “buts’ or “maybes”.   

But uncertainly, at least from our perspective, does seem to creep in.  I think it’s because we have expectations of how God should heal (and save) and when He should do so.  But the reality is that God’s plans and purposes are perfect and they are implemented out of His perfect wisdom and power.  So, when He heals (and saves), it certainly happens just a as it should!   

It seems to me that if we want to have any level of certainty in the midst of our uncertainty, it likely comes when we use those same two words of “and” and “will” in this way:  God’s plans and purposes are perfect and I will trust Him! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can't Get No Satisfaction

One of the songs that were popular in my youth was not particularly upbeat or helpful but it probably did express some of the angst of my generation.  It was not one that particularly resonated with me but as I recently read the book of Haggai, it did come to mind, well, at least some of the lyrics did.  It was the Rolling Stones song with the lyrics “I can’t get no satisfaction”.  Take a look at the chorus of that bleak song:   I can't get no satisfaction; I can't get no satisfaction; Gonna try and I try and I try and I try; I can't get no - I can't get no –   Now take a look at Haggai 1:6 – “ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” It sure sounds like the people of Judah couldn’t get any satisfaction with the things of life that normally should have brought some type of s...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Horse Of Course

In Biblical times, horses represented military power and strength.  And if you had both horses and chariots, well, that was the ultimate of military powers and wars were often won with them. Yet in seeking to have what would normally be considered insurmountable military strength, there was one factor that was often overlooked.  The Psalmist made it clear what that factor was when he wrote:  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”   (Ps 20:7) While Israel did at times trust in the name of the Lord, there were other times when they tried to trust in horses and chariots to win their battles.  This is what the Lord spoke to Israel through the prophet Isaiah:  “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,   who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots   and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord .”  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hide Not...

Over the centuries, the words have brought great comfort and encouragement.   The words are often used as a benediction or a blessing:   The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.   (Num 6:24-26)   What in the world is a countenance?  By definition, it is a person's face or facial expression. So if the Lord’s face shines upon us and if He lifts up His countenance upon us, what does all that mean? It means that He is giving us His attention.  But even more so, His face shining upon us gives us t he picture of a beaming face like that of a parent for their beloved child.  And the reference to Him lifting up His countenance points to God extending divine favor and peace to us. Sometimes we can appreciate things more by seeing opposites.  The opposite of a lifted face is a face that has fallen, perhaps because of sham...
Post a Comment
Read more