Conquering Our Fears of the Future

This post is by Hannah Oxley.

It’s 11 AM, and I’m sitting in my room on what is either my fourth or fifth day of quarantine (is time even real anymore?). I’m beyond blessed to have friends asking if they can drop off groceries, a mom who calls me every morning on her way to school just to check in, and a boyfriend who has visited every evening (double-masked and sitting on an uncomfortable kitchen chair 8-feet away from my bedroom door), just to make sure I laughed that day. 

Despite the flurry of texts, FaceTimes, and memes flooding my phone, this is hard. My mind is foggy and my spirit feels weak. The last thing I want to do is think about the projects waiting for me when I can return to work, let alone the goals I’d hoped to accomplish by the end of the month. In this empty apartment, everything feels insurmountable, like the “normal Hannah” won’t be able to handle whatever is waiting for her outside. 

Lord, I pray I’m not the only one who has felt this tired. I pray this because I’m excited to see what God has next for my life. I don’t want to spend my days waiting to see what’s coming; I want to participate in God’s plan for me. 

 We are not in control of this life, but God, who is perfect and powerful, and knowledgeable beyond compare? He is. 

We can stop scurrying in anxious anticipation, and we can breathe. Take a moment, right now, and let that truth wash over you. 

Seriously. Take three slow, deep breaths. With each inhale, allow your heart to beat just a little slower and your racing thoughts to stall. With every exhale, let go of the fear that you can’t control what’s next. 

Because, guess what? You can’t. And that’s okay. It’s actually good, because we have a righteous God who knows every step before we even dream of taking it.

Now, ask yourself, what is sure in this life? Take this opportunity to remind yourself of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember that God created us in His image, not because He needed (or even wanted) anything from us, but because He loved us and desired for us to live in perfect union with Him in the garden. Remember that while God’s creation was perfect, we believed the lie that we were missing something, and we chose sin over our Creator. Remember that while we couldn’t stay with Him in the garden, for nothing evil could remain in His presence, He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus. Remember that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, so that one day we could go back home and live, eternally, in everlasting joy, worship, and righteousness as co-heirs of his kingdom. 

Now, if all of this is true (and friends, it is true), remember that we have never been called to perfection. Rather, we have been called to believe, to repent, and to share the good news that has calmed our hearts and souls since the moment we truly believed. 

As followers of Jesus, we are absolutely called to have hopes and dreams for our lives here on earth. We’re called to be ambassadors for Christ, and we’re called to steward the gifts we’ve been blessed with, whether that is at home, in the workplace, at school, or in relationships. What it doesn’t mean is putting so much pressure on our futures that we forget we rest securely in the fold of God. 

Pursuing our goals means pursuing God fully, then finding the tools that suit our personalities and strengths. It means letting go of the fear that tells us we have to have the largest salary in our company.. Today, take the time to remember these things. 

Before you think about next month. 

Before you worry about tomorrow. 

Before you create what will surely become an endless to-do list. 

Before everything, bring yourself to the Father. 

If you’re like me, and you have no idea where to begin, pray as Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.

Hannah Oxley is a writer, a youth group leader, and an avid reader. When she’s not writing or working in her favorite bookstore (Mystery to Me in Madison, WI), she can be found sipping coffee with friends and/or roaming the aisles of Trader Joe’s.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash