REFLECTIONS

Uncertainties and Doubt

“You are the light of the world.” Those words have closed every Reflections published beginning with the first one on January 3, 2005. The passage is chosen as a reminder, mostly to me, that God has a purpose for my life, and yours. Every day He uses us; sometimes in performance, sometimes in mourning, sometimes in celebration, and I believe, always in preparation. But we are not alone. “I am with you always,” Jesus said.

The underlying purpose of these weekly pieces is to remind us that God brought us into the world to make a difference. Without your presence here, something or someone would be different. You have made an indelible mark in this world from the day you were given life. Many lives were changed that day. You were then, and you are now, a light shining into the darkness of someone’s life. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)

Quite a responsibility we all have, isn’t it? The responsibility to be a light in the world feels like burdens too heavy to bear especially when uncertainties and doubt enter in. Except Jesus is there. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28, 30) When we embrace those comfortable words, the uncertainties we face and doubts we bear are carried away.

Uncertainties and doubt. You and I awoke today with them looming over us. They make our hearts tremble, invade confidence in the decisions we make, and produce fear entrenched in the questions of “what if…?” We endlessly work to remove uncertainties and doubt from our lives believing life is easier when things are sure. But little in this world is.

God placed you and me in the world with a job to do. He gave us free-will to discern and follow his plan or to choose our own way. Neither choice is free of doubt and uncertainties. Neither path promises freedom from disappointment or pain. No matter the path we chose that led to the place we stand today, God has a plan to move us to where he wants us to be. Remember, the Israelites feared the giants they saw on their way to the promised land and chose not to enter. But forty years later, God led them there anyway.

On that January evening in 2005, I breathed a brief prayer before pressing my fingers on the button that shared the first Reflections. Fewer than 70 people received the email then; but doubt hovered over my writing quality, message clarity, and the opening of my very private mind for others to see. Still, God’s word was a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. And there were no uncertainties then nor are their uncertainties now in his promise, “I am with you always.” So, I share the reminder still today.

God has a purpose for your life…

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.