An Unknown Future

In less than 9 days I will be getting on a plane and moving to the USA for 6 months. I will know only one other person in the whole big state of Texas; and as it stands today, I don't even know where I will be living, what I will be driving, what I will be working on. There is a lot of unknown happening right now—which if you know me, you know is not remotely my comfort zone. But as I think about all the unknowns, one of my favourite, foundational quotes comes to mind:

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." - Corrie Ten Boom

In this, even in the midst of the unknown, I find His peace.

Peace because He has a plan and a purpose for me:
> Jeremiah 29:11 — "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
> Psalm 139:16 — "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
> Isaiah 42:6 — "I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by Your hand."

I don’t need to make up a big plans and to-do lists for my life to have meaning, because God has already planned the whole thing out. I haven’t slipped through the cracks. God has me, He's written my story and knows my every day.

Peace because God is bigger than me:
> Proverbs 16:9 — “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.”
> Isaiah 55:8 — "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD."
> Isaiah 14:24 — "The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen."

I can't mess up God's plan for my life; I can't take away His control or sovereignty by my silly choices. Yes, I may add in some detours or I can make things a little harder for myself and learn lessons the painful way. But when I realize that God is going to accomplish His purpose for my life whether I come along willingly or kicking and screaming, it becomes easier to act and decide and go. With the Lord determining my steps, when I step out in faith, I can’t go wrong.

Peace because God has always provided and always will:
> 2 Corinthians 9:8 — "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
> 2 Peter 1:3 — "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us."
> Luke 12:24 — "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!"

All the resources of the world ultimately are within God's hands. He is able and willing to provide us with all we could ever need— physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The provision may not be exactly what we want or think we need, but I know He will always provide everything we need to get through whatever struggle we find ourselves in.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:31-34

It all comes down to trust. Do I trust God to know what’s best for my life? Do I trust that He will continue to pave out the road beneath my feet while I just keep on putting one foot in front of the other, even when I can't see it for myself? Do I trust him for the big and small in my life? As I learn to trust Jesus more and more, I find I am experiencing more and more of His incredible, pervasive peace.

It’s hard, but I hope, like me, you are learning that Jesus is worthy of all of our trust, always.