The Certainty of Uncertainty

I think that Covid has taught or reminded us of how uncertain life is. While many know this already, it is happening at a shared international level. Does this mean something is really wrong or has hanged and we now need to worry? Or does it mean that life is simply being what life has always been.

The Bible is quite open regarding talking about such things and is a very helpful guide to handling life's unpredictability including things like Covid-19.

Even Jesus says he does not know the day or the hour of the end (Matthew 24:36). Perhaps it was the only thing he did not know, but he was open about it. It is okay to not know everything and admit it.

Have you also noticed how so much of the Bible consists of events that happen to people or involving people without God's direct obvious intervention. Things just happen and people just have to deal with it and can learn from it. Even when God gives certainty with some things, he is sometimes quiet on the details, very often the how and the why can be missing or only given later.

The Bible also paints a repeated theme of the fragility of human existence 'the wind blows over it and it is gone and it's place remembers it no more' (Psalm 103v16, NIV). We have no control over the wind which creates that uncertainty about life. In fact we are in control of very little. Again, thankfully the Bible is open about that and faces us with it.

The reason for this is largely humility. Our dependency on others, nature and God himself is so extensive that we are given, sometimes brutal, reminders of this. Covid is a prime example of this. There have been waves of virus or bacterial pandemics throughout history. It is a part of our unpredictable human existence. This is just another one. But it challenges us to the core of our pride. Life (which was unpredictable before Covid) is perceived now as being more unpredictable and uncertain especially for us living in wealthier economies who are far less used to this type of uncertainty invasion.

James has a simplistic take on this 'Instead he ought to say "if it is the Lord will we will (A) live and (B) do this or that"' (James 4:13-16, my italics). James' teaching on unpredictability is some of the most blunt and in many ways uncomfortable way of seeing things. He has just reminded the readers of the insignificance of our life referring to it as a mist that appears and disappears. He also reminds us of our lack of knowledge by claiming that we actually do not even know what will definitely happen tomorrow (I would add in 10 minutes). His summary of how our attitude should be then, is two fold. A. our life is in God's hands, we cannot even know if we will be alive in the morning so speak baring this in mind B. make plans accordingly.

He is not saying do not make plans but to be prepared for unpredictability because uncertainty in life is a certainty and make plans with humility, therefore, the shocks of life become less shocking.

Okay, this can all seem negative and for some, this unpredictability can cause a lot of anxiety. What else can we learn about the certainty of uncertainty from a Biblical perspective?

If we apply the Biblical principles (which I only very briefly touched on) can it help or hinder us? What do we gain? Here are some thoughts.

1. Reduced pride and arrogance-which leads to a closer walk with God

2. Less shock with uncertain moments, times and seasons-which leads to greater strength, resolve, character and emotional stability

3. Knowing and accepting that life is uncertain-which leads to not simply blaming God when things go amiss for the Bible teaches that life will go amiss, probably quite often. Being Christian does not make us immune.

4. Greater access to peace-why? We lose peace quite often because of uncertainty and fear, when we accept that life is uncertain, we spend less time worrying about what we never had control over anyway.

5. We can learn to be more thankful for the good things-again, drawing us closer to God.

Staying humble before God helps maintain and grow our relationship with him. When things happen instead of being so overwhelmed we can respond with greater wisdom for our sake but more importantly, for the sake of others around us. When our plans fail, we can know that it is okay, we haven't failed as people just because our plans didn't work out, our value has not decreased. See how it starts to weave into us. Now, a Biblical view can start to help us with our view of ourselves when things do not work out. By maintaining the attitude of if it is the Lord's will we will live and do this or that, we are handing over our lives more to him, walking closer to him in humility.

Ultimately, being closer to God is what helps us to walk through life with less worry, fear and anxiety. 'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me' (Psalm 23, NIV) -the Bible's teaching of life's uncertainties helps us to understand the meaning of Psalm 23 and Psalm 46 'God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble, therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea' (NIV). Pride pushes us away from God, being close to God is the best way to handle the certainty of uncertainty. Scripture challenges us, like the passage in James, but it is in order to actually lead to a better life and relationship with God which is the best way to face uncertainty including situations like Covid and whatever else may come. Being close to God is the best way to face them.

Life is uncertain, that's what the Bible teaches. It also teaches that being close to God in and through uncertainty is what helps us to get through it walking in less fear and anxiety and more in his love and peace where we can be a blessing more to others. God, through his word is actually trying to empower us through its honest appraisal of our existence, and give us a way out of all the worrying. The only certainty in life is God in and through it all.