The future is very uncertain to us. Nobody knows when the COVID-19 pandemic will end. When will we be able to physically gather with friends and relatives again? Will we still have our current jobs and envisaged career paths? Should I close down my business and cut the heavy losses? What kind of education will I get and when will I graduate? When can I hold my wedding celebrations? When can I enjoy unrestricted sports and recreational activities again? When will air travel for business and leisure resume? When can I physically attend conferences, seminars and training programmes again?
How can I prepare myself for the future when so many things are still unknown?
Organisational consultant and writer, Dr Margaret Wheatley, wrote, “It is possible to prepare for the future without knowing what it will be. The primary way to prepare for the unknown is to attend to the quality of our relationships, to how well we know and trust one another.” What insightful and powerful words for us to heed during this pandemic crisis!
In uncertain times we all feel the painful and stressful loss of control. However, if we attend to the quality of our relationships, then we will grow trust and be able to rely on one another as we weather the storm and get through the crisis together. These relationships include the ones we have with our family members, close friends (our “inner circle”) and teammates. But above all, the most important relationship we have is with God our Creator, Saviour and King. When we get that relationship right – when we choose to come home or return wholeheartedly to Him – then all is well with your soul and mine.
Outside, the storm may be raging on, but inside we have peace with God and His presence is with us. When we know that the sovereign and all-powerful God loves us, we can fully entrust our lives into His hands and have a sure hope for a blessed future!
Written by Ps Ivan Ho
We invite you to explore the resources below to know God better – how He knows you fully as a person, how He loves you in Christ, and how He wants you to relate with Him and the people in your life.
SERMONS
“Finding Trust in the Midst of Uncertainty”, by Rev Dr Chua Chung Kai: https://sermonresources.cefc.org.sg/file/1552
In this sermon “Taking Our Discipleship Higher as a Family”, Rev Dr Chua Chung Kai insightfully and authentically teaches how we can develop our relationships with God and our family members: https://sermonresources.cefc.org.sg/file/1520
SCRIPTURE
SONGS
“Known”, by Tauren Wells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xckDgX8xNfg
(Tauren sings of the deep assurance and trust that comes from being fully known and loved by God. Despite the mess and contradictions in our lives, God pursues us in His love and draws us to Himself.)
“Knowing You, Jesus”, by Graham Kendrick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r8XfE_VNb0
(In this song, Graham delights in his life’s great purpose – knowing Jesus. Nothing can surpass the value of being in a love relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.)
TESTIMONY
Bernard Gan shares a powerful testimony of him and his wife, Verena, learning to trust God as they went through two consecutive battles with cancer – first, Bernard’s nose cancer, then five years later, Verena’s colon cancer: https://saltandlight.sg/faith/stop-your-mourning-stand-up-and-fight-god-told-couple-who-were-struck-with-cancer-one-after-another/
ARTICLES & VIDEOS
“Building Healthy Relationships”, by Health Direct, Australia: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/building-healthy-relationships
“Making Marriage Work”, by John Gottman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTyPgwfPgg&feature=emb_rel_end
“How to Pray When You’re Fighting with Your Spouse”, by Paul David Tripp: https://www.crossway.org/articles/how-to-pray-when-youre-fighting-with-your-spouse/
“When Change Is Out of Control”, by Margaret Wheatley: https://www.margaretwheatley.com/articles/whenchangeisoutofcontrol.html
