The God of the Unknown By Pastor Shari Stephens 0

If you are anything like me, the most frustrating things are all of the “unknowns” in this life of faith.  Trusting that things will work out when I don’t see a way.  Believing that there are answers when I can’t see them. By nature of the lifestyle, living by faith invites the unknown to live with us in some way or another for the rest of our lives. So, if you want to be a man or woman of faith, you better adapt quickly to a life with what I call, the “X” factor.  We are constantly solving for the unknown or “X”.

The problem with this thinking is that you assume that you must be the one who knows things.  You want to be in control, you want to have a firm grip on all elements of your life and that’s just not realistic. Whether you realize it or not, even people who do not live by faith, don’t know everything going on in their life.

So how then can we live in a state of peace, with all these unknown elements around us? I asked God this in prayer and here is what He told me,

“There is nothing truly unknown, because I KNOW EVERYTHING!!!  You don’t… but you KNOW ME and I DO!!!”

Hebrews 4:13 says,

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Again Isaiah 46:9-10 says,

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

Not only does God know everything, but He knows everything without time limits on it!  That’s God!

If your Father has a firm grasp on where you are headed, where you have been, and He is kind and loving towards you, you can simply, calmly, trust Him with …everything! Especially the unknowns.

There is no need to fret, worry, stress or freak out when you can’t seem to figure out the rest of the puzzle.  The is no great “unknown” lurking to take you out…God knows all.  He has gone before you and He knows the way.

Think about the children trapped in the cave in Thailand.  They certainly don’t know all the ways to get out, but If a rescue diver comes, they will know what to expect at every turn, dip and dive.

Now let’s take that up a significant notch, what if that rescue diver was Jesus.  He not only knows the ways out, but He is able to sustain you through it. He would be prepared for any unexpected rock slides, tight spots, etc., because they wouldn’t be unexpected to Him.  He can even sustain your life because He is life itself.  Do you see how much safer we would be?  Do you see how we would have a greater reason to trust?   Well, we do, because Jesus is leading us out!

Stop trying to see things through your damaged eyes.  My husband just had cataracts removed from his eyes and his first comments, as they were healing, was that things were looking bluer.  I was concerned because I thought they should just look clear, but the eye doctor said that was normal.  His cataract had placed a foggy, yellowish, haze over his eyes, so he wasn’t seeing properly.  Now, with his new lenses, things are clearer, but also more colorful.

When we trust in God, we see more clearly, as things really are.  God is here.  He knows all things, there is nothing to fear.  He has made a way for you already.  That is the truth.

Father,

Help us to trust and rest in the fact that you know all things and our dark places are laid bare before you.  Thank you for guiding us through and directing our paths.

In Jesus’ Name

Amen