I recently sent a congratulation card to a young friend who had just secured her first teaching job. Usually teaching vacancies come up after half term, but this school had got ahead of the game and interviewed early. I remembered when I had successfully got a teaching job on 24th April, for a September start and how happy I was to know I had future financial security, so far in advance. I imagine, that’s how football teams feel when they secure promotion before the last game of the season. They can relax and enjoy any games that are left, without pressure.
In contrast, I remember when I was heavily pregnant, waking up each morning, with my bag packed, not knowing whether I would be taken into hospital during the day or whether I would spend the next night in my own bed. I’m not good with uncertainty. I like to have plans and stick to them.
Life’s not like that though. We never know what’s round the corner. We set off for an appointment in plenty of time, then there’s trouble on the bridge and everything is grid locked, taking us an hour to do a 15 minute journey. We save up for a holiday, only to find that skirmishes in the Middle East delay flights. In local elections we discover there’s no such thing as a ‘safe’ seat, and power shifts from one party to another. Our allies aren’t allies anymore, fuel gets crazy expensive, the rain doesn’t come and the crops don’t grow.
There is no security. No future is safe. Except…
God doesn’t change. He doesn’t promise an easy ride. He doesn’t say if we walk with Him we wont have problems – yes we may stumble – but He will be there to pick us up. We wont travel alone. There is no greater security than having Him – the Almighty Creator- beside You – knowing that He loves and cares for You like no other.
‘I know who holds the future, and I know He holds my hand,
With God, things don’t just happen, everything by Him is planned,
So, as I face tomorrow, with it’s problems large and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to Him my all.’ – Alfred B Smith