How to Find Joy in the Uncertain

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Fear of the uncertain can keep us from achieving great things. For example:

You might stay in a job you hate because you are afraid to take the plunge and try something new. Maybe you are afraid of failure.

You might avoid traveling for fear of being away from your comfort zone or anxiety about the unknown.

You might avoid going to the doctor because you don’t want to hear the diagnosis.

What are the odds?

Seriously, what are the odds? Are the odds of you being happier at home greater than the odds of having a great adventure? Will avoiding the doctor make your reality less real?

The odds are, you are worried about a future event over which you have absolutely no control. The truth is, uncertainty is part of everybody’s life, and we all find ourselves in the midst of it. This is why we need to learn how to find joy in uncertainty.

The book of Philippians is full of the promises of joy. Paul wrote this letter while in prison awaiting trial. Certainly, we can learn about finding joy in uncertainty by looking at his life!

Paul finds joy in uncertainty

Paul does not allow his circumstances to define him or keep him from doing the work he is meant to do. He does not allow his circumstances to steal his joy.

Two things stand out to me in the letter Paul writes to the Philippians. The first is, Paul does not expect the presence of trials and suffering to affect his joy. He is confident in the fact that our gladness does not come from outward circumstances, but rather from the strength within us. The strength that comes from knowing Christ personally.

The second thing I observe is that his uncertain future did not paralyze him or keep him from serving out his mission. If anything, it compels him to let God use his circumstances to bring the gospel to the people. Many of the books in the New Testament are letters Paul wrote while in prison!

In a world riddled with uncertainty, we can lean into the ever-present joy in our hearts. Though we may lose sight of it sometimes, we do not lose our joy during trials, suffering, or hard times.

Joy is not the absence of suffering but the presence of God. – Unknown

Learning to lean into God and the joy we have within us is something I have spent most of my life learning how to do. I can say I am better at it now that I have identified some ways to manage my anxiety and worries.

How I found joy in uncertainty

Over the years, I have learned that the time I spend worrying steals something I desperately need. Peace.

Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace! – Unknown

I recently found myself needing to help my son as he was standing in the doorway of uncertainty. He was losing sleep worrying about a situation over which he had no control.

As we talked about the situation, we brainstormed possible outcomes. I asked him to tell me exactly what was worrying him. We then talked about what we would do if the worst thing we could think of did happen.

But then, we talked about all the possible good outcomes in front of him. By doing this, we were able to pivot from worry to wonder.

Let go and let God!

We finished by admitting we could not control or predict the future, but we knew Who could. We decided to let go and let God. I shared with Joel how we could scoop up our worries and all the possible negative outcomes in our hands, lift them to the Lord, and ask Him to take the hindrance of worry from us.

Capturing your thoughts

The Bible often speaks about the power of our mind and our thoughts. It talks about taking every thought captive. Is that even possible?

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

The answer to capturing your thoughts is right here in Scripture, hidden in plain sight. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

One of my favorite sayings about our thought life is from Joyce Meyers:

You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair. – Joyce Meyer

The subject of changing your thought patterns and being mindful is an area I hope to explore further in future devotions. But for today, I want to leave you with a gift to help you meditate on God’s truths.

Click HERE for a free printable of Scriptures I turn to when I need a reminder that in uncertainty, there is hope, there is a plan, and there is peace.

Heavenly Father, help me trust you in my uncertainty. Thank you for your peace that passes all understanding during these times. I want to be excited about the future and learn to expect the best in all situations. Quiet my mind as I meditate on your Word and come to you in prayer as I surrender my worries. In Jesus’ name. Amen