I hate suspense, and it makes me a terrible movie-watcher. I don’t like the stressful feeling of watching through my fingers (yes, I’m covering my eyes) as I await the fate of my beloved main character. 

I handle it a little bit better when I’m watching a kids’ movie with my family. Why? Movies that are rated G usually have happy endings. There might be tension, maybe even a little bit of peril, but I know it’s going to turn out just fine. 

When we face difficulties, danger, or discouragement in this life, we don’t have to watch through our fingers and wonder how it will all turn out. (Is anyone else tempted to watch 2020 this way?!) God’s Word promises us a glorious ending unlike anything Hollywood could imagine. 

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Paul gives us several contrasts between the seen and the unseen. First, we have those things we can see. We see our bodies wasting away. We experience the pain of affliction that definitely doesn’t feel light or momentary. We look around this fallen world and see pain, injustice, suffering, and death. 

By faith, we can take our eyes off what we see and gaze upon what we’ve been promised. We are being renewed day by day – sustained and upheld by our Father as He conforms us to the likeness of His Son. Our suffering is light and momentary compared to the glory that lies ahead of us. And while the trouble we see around us is temporary, these glorious gifts we receive in Christ will last forever. 

Because of Christ, there’s a happy ending to this story. We don’t have to watch anxiously as events unfold, with nothing to cling to but wishful thinking. We have a living hope – Jesus Christ – and He’s guaranteed our glorious future. 

No matter what you face this week, do not lose heart. Glory is coming!

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Do you remember the days before Siri, Google, and Alexa? To be honest, I’ve forgotten what it was like to have a question and not have the internet to turn to for answers. Now if I want to know “How many tablespoons are in a cup?” or “What time is sunset tomorrow?” or “What’s the weather today in Timbuktu?” – I just ask the nearest device and get the answer in seconds. 

I think because I have the answers to all of these questions at my fingertips, I’ve forgotten how to not know things. The abundance of information I usually enjoy increases the frustration I feel when my questions go unanswered. We all experienced this tension last week as our questions lingered long after we thought we’d have answers. 

Sitting in the tension of the not-knowing feels unsettling and even scary sometimes. But there’s peace that comes from acknowledging that there is One who knows the answer to every question: 

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40:28) 

Isaiah is speaking to people who face many unknowns, and he reminds them of four truths about God that give them peace in their uncertainty. First, God is everlasting. This means He doesn’t have the limits we have. Our understanding is finite because we are finite. His understanding is infinite, because He is infinite. 

Second, God is our Creator. He knows everything about everything because He made everything. 

Third, God doesn’t grow weary. I can’t think of a more accurate word to describe most of us right now than weary. But God never gets tired or needs to rest. His strength never fails. 

Fourth, God’s understanding is unsearchable. You could consume every bit of information this world has to offer, but you wouldn’t even come close to reaching the end of His understanding. 

The unknowns that frighten us are not unknown to the Lord. He is not surprised, confused, or worried by the circumstances that we face. He knows how He will use each one for good according to His perfect purpose (Rom. 8:28). 

No matter what you face this week, you can trust the One who has unsearchable understanding. 

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How do you respond when your heart is anxious? I don’t know about you, but I often start searching for a reason to feel better. My eyes scan the landscape of this world for some reassurance. Maybe I’ll check my bank account balance. Maybe I’ll google “covid vaccine” to see if there’s any new developments there. Maybe I’ll read articles that will bring me some comfort regarding our nation’s political situation. 

There’s nothing wrong with pursuing financial stability, praying for life-saving medical developments, and advocating for our preferred political candidate. But none of these worldly reassurances bring lasting security. There is only One who can calm our anxious hearts with His perfect peace. 

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

When King David wrote this psalm, his source of worldly reassurance would be his military might. Even though God gave him great success and peace for the nation of Israel during his reign, David knew that his strongest army would mean nothing without the Lord. 

Notice how David doesn’t just say he trusts in the Lord – he says he trusts in the name of the Lord. Throughout the Old Testament, the name of the Lord is associated with the Lord’s covenant promises and presence with His people (see Deuteronomy 12:11, Proverbs 18:10, Joel 2:32). His name is tied to His faithfulness to keep all His promises. His name was how He revealed His character. David trusts in the Lord, the perfect promise-keeper. 

And notice those two important words at the end of the verse: “our God.” The Lord isn’t just the God, He’s our God. David was a descendent of Abraham and part of the nation of Israel who were chosen to be God’s people. And because of Christ’s sacrifice for us, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. We are His, and He is ours. In Christ, we can cry out to the Lord of the universe and call Him our God and Father. 

No matter what you face this week, you can trust in the name of the Lord your God. 

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