How to Trust Jesus Through the Great Unknown
Unknowns often make us uncomfortable. Yet they’re a big part of life. Learning to accept that we can’t control and plan everything that happens to us or to those we love, is necessary if we want to experience the peace that God has for us. We can rest in the promises of God’s Word, trusting it when it says,
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28
The good that is promised is often a mystery, something that we will not see for years (or even in our lifetime), and it may not be something that we could immediately recognize as good. It may look more like failure or heartache, but it’s all for God’s purpose and for his glory.
God’s purpose is always good for those who love him. Trust that this is true. There’s a peace that comes from trusting this- a peace from God that is so sweet, even in the hard times, even in the unknown. It goes beyond understanding.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”-Philippians 4:7
God is in control and he promises to work everything together for his good purpose. Does that mean we should just passively sit by and let life happen? No, definitely not! There’s a verse that speaks to this,
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” -Deuteronomy 29:29
Our part is to follow through on what God has revealed to us. The scriptures tell us to be responsible and do the best job we can at whatever we’re called to do. How do we know what we’re called to do? Here’s a good place to start:
"And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37-39
We will fail at loving God and our neighbor the way we should. And when we get it right? It's because of Jesus in us. The glory goes to God, not us. But God can even use those times of failure for his good purpose. Our God is a God of grace, who patiently loves and forgives those who seek him. We can’t always see the good that God has promised. That’s okay. Jesus is there for us, in the mystery of the great unknown. He's always there for us, always loving us, and he's forever worthy of all glory.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 1:6
The "great unknown" is a phrase from a song that I love. Many of you probably know it well. Oceans, by Hillsong, is the song that inspired the name of this blog as well as my book, Look to Jesus. I'm including my favorite version of it below if you'd like to listen and watch.
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
-lyrics from, Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), Hillsong United
Dawn Klinge is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
