When You Fear The Future

You’re likely familiar with PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Now doctors are dealing with pre-TSD, pre-traumatic stress disorder.

In a sobering article in the Washington Post on March 18, 2020, Dr. Alison Block writes about the medical frontlines in the battle against coronavirus. She and her fellow “doctors and nurses see news from our colleagues in China, South Korea and Italy, letting us know in no uncertain terms what is coming. The result is that we are all feeling the psychological ramifications of the trauma. We just haven’t experienced the trauma yet.”

Can you relate?

The Myth Of Certainty

Rev. Chris Elkins is Brand Director for Denison Forum and one of my dearest friends. He wrote: “The reality of uncertainty and the absence of control are the most distressing things I am experiencing in all of this. There’s no certainty about how this virus will spread or whom it will impact. The economic uncertainty is palpable. As well, I have zero control of the stock market, the hoarding, or people’s compliance to guidelines. I find all of this troubling and deeply distressing.”

However, as Chris notes, “Coronavirus did not create this reality—it just made it clear. To this point, I have mistakenly confused a measure of material success with the myth of certainty. Nothing in this world is certain, no matter the balance in my checking account or the investments in my retirement plan. Control is an illusion. I often cannot even control myself, much less anything outside of me.”

He adds: “The myth of certainty and the illusion of control are the result of the devil’s oldest temptation: being like God. God’s word is all I have that is certain.”

Fear Not

Like Dr. Block and like Chris, we are all facing an uncertain and frightening future. It’s human nature to fear what we cannot anticipate or control. In days like this, it is vital that we turn to the One who sees what we cannot see and promises his hope for our unknown future.

Our Lord says to his people, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Let’s claim his promise for the present: “I am with you.” 

No matter where you are today, your Lord is with you. He feels what you feel and loves you as you are.

And let’s claim his promise for the future: “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you.” 

There is nothing we can experience in the future that our Lord will not help us through.

Thomas Merton testified, “I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Will you make his faith your decision today?