For many of us, uncertainty adds points to the stress chart. Oh, we know that no day dawns with any guarantees, but we’re most comfortable when this dawn breaks with expectations that the day ahead of us will be much like the day past. A day that, Lord willing, our desired rhythms will repeat, our managed schedules will schedule, and our preferred plans will play out. We know we’re not in control, but we’re most at peace when God’s will syncs up with our ways.

In this current season, though today’s probably going to look at lot like yesterday, our patterns have been forced upon us and our plans are confined to a much narrower set of options. What’s more, we don’t know how long it will be before “normal patterns” will return. Even more what’s more, there looms the unknown of some form of economic tsunami ahead of us even after this current virus tsunami is past us. So, uncertainty about tomorrow becomes increasingly the certainty of today.

Kind of a powerful reminder that we really are not, and never have been, in control.

And so, the Scriptures bring much comfort and encouragement this morning as, in the midst of all this uncertainty, they remind me of what is certain.

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened — not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage.

(2Corinthians 5:1-6a ESV)

For we know . . .

That’s where I need to focus. Away from all that which is uncertain and towards that which is certain. Not stressing on what I don’t know but chewing on what I do know.

We know that right now we’re only tenting here on earth and that God has a house ready for us “eternal in the heavens.” That this is the journey not the destination. That we’re just passing through on our way to a promised place.

We know that while now we groan and are burdened with the effects of mortality, that one day “what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” Think we were living the “good life” before COVID-19? We ain’t seen nothing yet! We know that Jesus came to give us life and life to the full. That whatever we might think is the good life here is but a small sampling of life in His presence.

And we know that God is preparing us today for a glorious tomorrow because of the “deposit” He has left us with. His guarantee for our future, the Spirit inside us. Chew on that in a time of such uncertainty. We have a guarantee! A down payment from One who is able to payout in full. A pledge from One whose promises never fail. Who doesn’t want a guarantee? Who doesn’t want something they can count on? Especially when everything else is so uncertain.

Uncertainty abounds, but this we know.

“So,” Paul writes, “we are always of good courage.”

Always confident in our future. Sure amidst the uncertainty. At peace not because our plans play out but because His promises are sure.

For we know . . .

By His grace. For His glory.