Uncertainty and Anxiety

"There is nothing new under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9

As the writer of Ecclesiastes is quick to remind us, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). While that may sound oddly out of place in an age when new technological innovations greet us nearly every day, it’s a reminder that the trials and temptations of people’s hearts work the same way today as they did at the time of Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and even Christ. Take, for example, Christ’s exhortation in Matthew 6:25–34, which tells us not to be anxious. You’d think that in a time when the world has experienced the greatest economic boom and the lowest rates of food shortage in recorded history, we’d be beyond anxiety over food, drink, and clothing. But we aren’t, are we? There’s always at least a hint of uncertainty regarding our provisions, and uncertainty drives anxiety. Why does uncertainty cause anxiety, and what does Scripture tell us to do about it?

Let’s delve into the context of Christ’s challenge. In the verse preceding His call to abandon anxiety, He states: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (6:24). Worshiping money amplifies uncertainty, leading to a cascade of doubts. “Do we have enough? What if something happens and all my money is wiped out? What if something happens to the economy and the money I’ve worked so hard to save is worthless?” And the list goes on. This is why Christ redirects His listeners and says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (v. 33).

When God promises to provide,

we can trust Him to always come through.

What do you tend to be anxious about? Is it health, money, relationships, time? Do not fixate on whether you have enough of this or that, or how you may lose it; instead, focus on the kingdom of God. Contribute to the church. Volunteer with your time and talent. Visit those who are sick or shut in. You will find that as you shift your focus to kingdom ends, the Lord may refresh you, alleviate your anxiety, and provide for you as He always has and always will.

Additionally, uncertainty drives our anxiety because it highlights our lack of control. The antidote to this is faith. Again, Christ pinpoints it when He calls us “little-faithed ones” at the end of verse 30. What does faith require? Traditionally, the Reformed tradition has thought of faith as comprising three separate components: knowledge, assent, and trust. When things are uncertain, it is a direct assault on that first essential component—knowledge. We do not know how all things will align. This reveals how often our faith is self-focused (my need for certain knowledge) rather than God-focused (my experience of His certain care). What knowledge do we have that can help redirect our faith?

First, we know God’s character. He cannot lie because it is outside His holy nature. We read in 1 John that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1:5). When He promises to provide (Matt. 7:7–11), we know that we can trust Him to always come through—even if it is in very unexpected ways.

Second, we know God’s past actions for us. This is Paul’s argument in Romans 8:32, where he writes, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” The God who loves us so lavishly as to give His only begotten Son will not now leave us. He cannot. Additionally, we have the knowledge of how God has provided for us in this life. We need merely look back—and probably not long ago—to find instances of His faithfulness, even when things seemed uncertain.

Third, we know God’s valuation of us. Here, Christ argues from the lesser to the greater. If God lavishly provides for birds and flowers, how much more will He abundantly provide for His image bearers? Why, then, would we waste time, energy, and focus on fretting over an uncertain future? Besides, our future is already eternally secure. As Paul reminds us, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).

Uncertainty seems to foment anxiety. But Christ frees us from those anxious chains. He reminds us that hearts set on the kingdom, hands working for the kingdom, and faith focused on the King of heaven help us know that no matter what uncertainty the world throws at us, we are in the sure and certain hands of a loving and powerful Savior.

by Josh Squires / Tabletalk Magazine - September 2024

Video

A Prayer to Soothe an Anxious and Worried Heart: "Dear Lord, I thank you that I can come to You always for any reason. I’m grateful that when I pray to You, You answer me. Help me to come to You at the beginning of my fears and anxieties instead of waiting until I can’t stand them anymore. The quicker I come to You the better. You want to free me from ALL my fears. Help me look to You for help more often so that I can be radiant with Your joy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen."