The Graciousness of Uncertainty

Nearly five months ago I wrote a blog entry called “The First 100 Days.” It is hard for me to believe that I am already well into my “last 100 days” of my time in Ethiopia. Like anyone who tends to plan, I have been thinking a lot about the future. Where is it that the Lord is taking me on this journey? What should I do next? Should I just find a job in Ohio or somewhere else in the States? Should I come back to Africa or go somewhere else in this huge world?

I would like to be able to say that I have some inkling about where I think the Lord is leading me next, but I just don’t. And that, I am learning, is a wonderful place to be. It is what Oswald Chambers calls “the graciousness of uncertainty.” So often I want the Lord to reveal to me NOW what is going to happen in the future. But God, in His great wisdom and mercy, does not work that way. And even if He did tell me now, perhaps I wouldn’t like what He says, so I would do whatever I could to avoid it!

Girls having fun at Bible club! They are so precious!

But even in the uncertainty of the future, there is One of whom I can be certain. Oswald Chambers says, “To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time.”

And so over the last few weeks as I have been thinking and praying about “the next thing,” the Lord has been speaking to my heart, “Lydia, just be certain of Me. You know Me…your faithful God, who is always watching you, never forsaking you; your God who reveals things to you at just the right time. For now, just do the thing that I have called you to for this season…love the people that I have brought into your life. Don’t miss all that I have for you in your remaining time in Ethiopia because you are too busy thinking about the future. Seek Me first, and I will take care of the rest.”

So that is my challenge…to leave the whole thing to Him. Oswald Chambers again says, “It is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.”

How You Can Pray:
–that the Lord will redeem the time I have left here in Ethiopia for His glory and honor
–that I will wisdom to see every opportunity to share Christ with those around me, and
courage to seize the moment
–for the girls in the Bible studies that Karen, Esther, Sarah and I lead—that they would
have a desire to know Christ personally and walk in relationship with Him

Thank you for your continual prayers, encouragement, and support. You are a huge blessing to me, and I am so grateful that you are part of this with me!

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