Facing the Future
"He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." (Daniel 2:22)
The future fascinates us. We make forecasts, write plans, book holidays, save for retirement and fill our diaries and wall calendars months in advance. Yet, as Daniel chapter 2 reminds us, only God truly knows what lies ahead. Nebuchadnezzar's dream revealed that kingdoms rise and fall, empires come and go, but the God of heaven remains sovereign over history. The future is never hidden from Him.
That does not mean we stop planning. Scripture encourages wise preparation. But it does mean we hold our plans lightly. James gently reminds us, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow … Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:13-15). We plan prayerfully, trusting rather than presuming.
For some, however, facing the future is not exciting but exhausting. The past can imprison us. Painful memories, abuse, failure, broken relationships or regret can cast long shadows over tomorrow. Others feel trapped in the present by debt, grief, loneliness, declining health or difficult circumstances. Some fears are known; others are unknown. Much of life is uncertain.
The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard observed, "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." We cannot rewrite yesterday, but by God's grace we need not remain captive to it. Our past may explain us, but it does not define us. Christ offers forgiveness for sin, healing for wounds, and hope beyond our scars.
Even science reminds us of our limitations. Quantum mechanics suggests that, at the smallest scales, events are described in terms of probabilities rather than certainties. However we understand those mysteries, they point us back to a simple truth: human knowledge is always limited. God's knowledge is not. A.W. Tozer wisely wrote, "While our world is filled with unknowns, God is never surprised."
So what can we know with certainty? We know that God loves us. We know that Christ died and rose again. We know that the Holy Spirit is with every believer. We know that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We know that God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. We know that one day Christ will return, every tear will be wiped away, and His kingdom will have no end.
Corrie ten Boom, who endured the horrors of Ravensbrück concentration camp, encouraged countless believers with these words: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." This is wisdom worth waking up to.
We cannot control tomorrow, but we can trust the One who already stands there. Let us face the future: not with fear, but with faith; not with panic, but with peace; not with despair, but with hope. For our future is not ultimately found in circumstances, but in Christ Himself.
Revd Michael Hogg