2020 will clearly be a year to remember with radical medical crises crossing the country and confusing economics happening around the world. Clouds of all kinds, physical, financial and emotional are hovering low. We need help to walk ahead in the dark of the unknown.
What about you? Does your life have uncertainties as you enter another month of quarantine?
We can’t know the future. But we can know God…who knows the future. Darkness is the same as sunlight to Him.
Help from the Hall of Faith Inductees
Men and women highlighted in Hebrews chapter 11 experienced challenges and crises of all kinds. Here are some helpful reminders from these greats, famous for their faithful following into the dark unknown.
• Hijack Fear – Noah endured ridicule and rejection as he obeyed the command to build a strange boat for torrential rains no one had ever seen before. The plan would end all life except what could be crowded into the floating vessel. Noah hammered and counted animals and did not give into fear. Likely he was afraid the whole time till that rainbow and dry land appeared.
• Hunt for the Light along the way – Abraham had no roadmap for where he was going. He looked for divine signs and direction along the way, pitching his tent and then pressing forward. Angelic visitors and mysterious fire motivated him to continue. The command to sacrifice his only son called for him to climb another mountain of uncertainty. Only at the end did a captured sheep and a voice from heaven shed light on the puzzling trust test.
• Hold His Hand – Enoch walked with God all the way off the earth into eternity. Though we do not know exactly what that meant, clearly, they enjoyed a close relationship. He knew God and we should likewise strive to learn His ways, His truth, and be His friend and follower through all our cloudy and sunny days.
• Harness Courage – Rahab the prostitute in Jericho bravely connected herself with the foreigners in her city to save her family from impending doom. She did not know what things would look like to join a different religious group or serve a god she had only heard about. She took the steps she needed for a better future and the benefits took her into the lineage of God’s son, Jesus.
• Heed History – David remembered his own divine provision and protection as a shepherd when he took on the enemies of Israel. He recalled the stories of God’s people and prophets to encourage him for future leadership success. When we reminisce on the faithfulness of God to His people throughout the ages, we can move through the veil before us with confidence. He is still present, still powerful to save us even in the darkness.
• Hang Out with Others as best you can – Moses spent many years alone as a shepherd. When called into service for a crazy adventure to lead thousands of people to an unfamiliar destination, he asked for his siblings to join him. He added counselors and leaders to share all the demands and details that came with his job. Having company when faced with strange situations can feel less scary but choose companions wisely. God turned out to be his best friend by far.
• Have Faith for a Future – Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all had plenty of reasons to doubt they would inherit a grand future during their dark days. They made mistakes in the waiting of promises to be fulfilled, but each saw the faithfulness of God and rallied personal, sustaining faith. Whether hoping for a child, a spouse, financial security, or freedom from slavery, we can trust that God is for us. He planned our lives to glorify Him and be good for us no matter the present difficulties.
Take Small Steps
When making your way in a dark room, walk slowly and carefully. Bumps and broken treasures are painful and not always easy to fix. Navigating a cloudy future is similar.
Perhaps you need help to illuminate your unknown destinies and shadowed dreams during this crazy COVID-19 time. Employ a credentialed Christian life coach to guide you in the next steps to achieving your new, at-home goals and reducing fear of failure. With coaching and God’s help, you can discover how to walk in the dark and expect the sun to break through in His perfect timing.
Here is a recent endorsement from a twenty-seven-year-old client after two years of life coaching:
We all need an external perspective in our lives especially from someone who is insightful and determined enough to dig to the root issue. But Gail doesn’t stop there. Walking alongside the Holy Spirit, she challenges preconceived notions, and guides you to a place of clarity and encouragement. It’s worth every penny. Investing in coaching is an investment in your future. It’s life-changing! ~Chad
