Fear of the Unknown
Hi, my name is Ali and I like control. I like to know every little detail that will take place in my life today, tomorrow, and the day after that. I need to know what would happen if I do this or if I do that. Not knowing what the future holds creates so much anxiety and worry for me. It always has for as long as I can remember. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us clearly that we should walk by faith and not by sight, that we need to live by believing and not seeing but the honest human in me tells me that actually knowing what will happen next would bring me more peace than not knowing would.
Need I go on?
I was speaking to a friend the other day and we were both talking about our future. I shared that I have no idea what I should do regarding a specific matter, and I listed all my thoughts around it. My friend politely interjected and asked if he could tell me something without me being offended. He wanted to be honest with me as a friend and I told him, “Sure. Of course.” He stated, “I can tell that you fear the unknown. It is evident in the way that you speak. You have all of these ideas in your head as to what you would like to see happen which is nice but it is taking away from you enjoying the present moment…” As he talked, I was extremely quiet. I had no objections. He was spot on.
The truth hurts. However, if it means recognizing a pattern of behavior that is destructive so that you can change, then it is worth hearing the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth! John 8:32 states, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” One of the only ways to experience true freedom in life is by knowing the truth. Even if it hurts. Change is contingent upon you. How bad do you want to be set free from the very thing that is holding you in bondage? That is the golden question.
If you suffer from this fear of the unknown like me and truly want to change, then we both have some work to do! One thing that we need to remember is that we serve an almighty, all-powerful God as a believer. He knows what will happen even before it happens. He knows our end from our beginning. He knew when we would be born and He knows when we will die. God created us, not to know every single detail of our life but to trust Him enough to lead us in the right direction. It is so natural and easy to jump into the driver seat of the car and not have to be dependent on someone to take you somewhere. Because of who God is and His nature, He wants to be the One to take us to our next destination. He wants our faith to be so great in our walk of life that we leave it to Him. It is hard and God knows that. But even in this struggle of control, surrendering to God completely gives Him the room to work as we rest and take it one day at a time.
God wants you and I to live a full and abundant life each and every day (John 10:10), not at all worrying about tomorrow as tomorrow has its own worries (Matthew 6:25-34). Read more of Matthew 6 below and allow the scriptures to sink in. The power of it will bring you so much peace. Read it and read it again if you have too. Remove the fear today and allow the presence of God to rest on you as you go about your day knowing full well that He has you in the palm of His hands and wants nothing but the best for you!
It is okay to not know. That is a part of the Christian walk. We do our part by taking that step of faith and God handles the rest. Apply for the job. Talk to that guy/girl that you are interested in (pray about it and moves as God allows you to). Move to that state. Check out that apartment or house. Start your own business and/or ministry with the ideas that God has already given you, not worrying about who will follow or buy. Network to meet new people. Seek out counseling. Attend that new church. Register for that extracurricular activity. Whatever it is, do it all in faith, NOT FEAR.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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