The Train Ticket

“Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. "Corrie," he began gently, "when you and I go to Amsterdam - when do I give you your ticket?"

I sniffed a few times, considering this.

"Why, just before we get on the train."

"Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need - just in time.”

- The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom

We're all easily unsettled by uncertainty, myself especially so. I'm a chronic to-do list-er, and I wake up with thoughts about my schedule for the day, down to what I'll do during the breaks between my experiments. So, I have always found it disconcerting when I'm unable to think five steps ahead, to know the finish line and how exactly to get there. Uncertainty, however, is an inevitable aspect of life, though the specific details will vary - it might be about your job or immigration status, or even fear for your life or that of your loved ones, like Corrie. The question then is, how do we deal with uncertainty?

You've probably heard many times over that we need to trust God, that we can trust God because He is good and His love is unfailing. You've seen all these verses before:

"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you."

Isaiah 54:10

"And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

But of course, it is much easier said than done. When I was faced with my own period of uncertainty and anxiety last month, I read/recalled these and other verses many times, yet, was cynical about it. "How good could this possibly be?" "This doesn't seem like much of a plan to me." I wanted my train ticket in my hand immediately, with the destination, how long it would take, arrival time, and even what meal I could expect onboard, but He knew that I didn't need it yet.

People interpret, "childlike faith" differently, but this is how I take it - not that we can't questions or seek explanations, but that regardless of how little or how much we know, what questions are answered and which echo back to us in apparent silence, we simply continue holding on to His hand and letting Him lead the way.

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus says,

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Honestly, we already have so much to do each day, so why add on the extra task of worrying about tomorrow, especially when you can't do much about it? God is in your tomorrow, and He's figured it out, so leave it to Him, and focus on what's in front of you today.

Even in the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), we don't ask for bread for the month or even the week, but for our daily bread. So, you may not know how that issue will be resolved by the end of the year, or how you'll make rent next month, but trust that the Lord will provide your daily bread today, tomorrow, the day after, and each day after that.

There's a song I remember from Sunday School as a child. The lyrics go, "One step at a time, one step at a time, only one step at a time. This is the way the Lord will lead you, one step at a time." As you navigate whatever challenges you face, be content with each step He leads you, and even though you may not know the way, trust that He who was faithful to show you this step will lead you into your next.

"[O]ur wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him... When the time comes... you will... find [what] you need - just in time.”

Peace and love of Christ be with you!