When You Fear The Unknown

I spent the summer of 1979 as a missionary on the island of Borneo, where I encountered hundreds of people who had no access whatsoever to the modern world: no electricity, no telephones, no knowledge of world events. They were living as their tribal ancestors had lived for thousands of years. 

It is estimated that, of the world’s 7.6 billion people, more than 2.5 billion have no access to mobile phones. More than 3.3 billion have no access to the internet. How many don’t know about the coronavirus crisis that the rest of the world is facing? 

Of course, not knowing about something makes it no less real. 

You can have cancer without knowing that you have cancer. Your house can have foundation issues that are not yet visibly apparent. 

The good news is that we don’t worry about problems we don’t know could exist. 

The coronavirus pandemic is different, of course. 

Unlike those in remote areas with little to no news or internet access, most of us are inundated with news about the disease all through the day. And so, we know enough to worry about what we don’t know: Will social distancing work? Will enough people do it? Will American become Italy? Will my family get the virus? Will I still have a job when this is over? 

When will this be over? 

Trust Your Fear To The Overcomer

Fears of a future we can neither know nor control are not unique to the pandemic. 

On Maundy Thursday, after Jesus told his disciples that he would be betrayed and abandoned (John 13:21, 38), he made this prediction: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33a). “Tribulation” translates a Greek word which describes the giant weight used in their day to crush grain into flour. 

Jesus was predicting that the world would hate and persecute his followers (John 15:19). His warning became reality over the coming years as they were beaten and imprisoned; all but John were martyred, and he was exiled on Patmos. 

But as these disciples faced an uncertain future, they could claim this assurance from their Lord: “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). The Greek indicates past action with present consequences: “I have conquered the world and am its conqueror still today.” 

No matter what we face in the future, we can trust our fear to the One who will be just as omnipotent then as when he made the universe. He will love us just as much then as when he died for us. 

How To Face The Future

So, name your fear of the future and turn it over to the King of the cosmos. 

Trust that he is in control of what you cannot control. 

And ask him for all that his omnipotent power and passionate love can do. 

Andrew Murray: “Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what he can do.” 

Your future is as bright as the providence of God.