In the midst of an uncertain world, we long for the certainties of job, income, and professional growth. As COVID-19 continues to hit global and local economies, however, we are likely to suffer from uncertainty and instability.
But there are eternal truths that we can always count on. God’s Word offers us assurance on what we can be certain of. Here are 7 important, life-giving truths to hold on to.
1. Life Is Troubled
In the most ancient book in the Bible, a man named Job learned firsthand the pain of loss. He lost his children, his possessions, and even his friends. Such a magnitude of loss would have been devastating, but Job recognised the stark reality of living in a fallen world. He said:
Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble (Job 14:1).
If you are wondering whether you are being singled out or facing something out of the ordinary, remember this: you are not alone. Many of us suffer from trouble, because life is troubled.
2. We Are Not Alone
Do you feel isolated in your circumstances? Does it seem like the bottom has dropped out of your world, and you’re falling into a deep hole that never seems to end?
In reminding us to keep our lives “free from the love of money” and to be content with what we have, Hebrews 13:5-6 offers an assurance of certainty—that God is still there.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
When life becomes overwhelming, don’t lose sight of this wonderful truth—we are not facing our burdens alone. God is there.
3. We Have Resources Beyond Ourselves
In Matthew 6:33, the people who were listening to Jesus were fearful about tomorrow. They were uncertain about how they would live and how their needs would be met. But Jesus urged them to look higher.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Perhaps some of the pressures we feel today come because we are pursuing the wrong goals—like high salaries or success in our jobs. Let us instead focus on building a right relationship with God, for such a relationship is the one thing in life that lasts forever. In Him, we have an eternal supply that this world cannot destroy.
4. Our Pain Can Grow Our Faith
We naturally dread pain, largely because we see it as a negative thing. The Bible, however, reminds us that our struggles can provide opportunities for us to grow in ways that times of ease may not be able to produce. The apostle Paul wrote:
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).
If you know Christ, you can be assured that you serve a God who doesn’t waste anything—including the pain of job loss.
5. Our Pain Can Help Others
Not only can our struggles help us to grow, but they can also give us an opportunity to help others. Our experiences can give us the background to help others when the pain of job loss visits them. That’s why Paul wrote:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).
When we ourselves have experienced pain and loss, it equips us to help other hurting people. Our own journey, while painful, enables us to have a personal experience of God’s encouragement, which we can then share with others.
6. This Is Not the End
When we face a serious life crisis, like losing a job, it can seem like the end of the world. We might think that life will never be good again, and that there’s nothing left to live for.
Be assured, however, that it’s not the end. Paul wrote:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
Whatever dark experiences we face in this life, one day they will be overwhelmed by the perfect and complete reality of eternity in the presence of the Christ who loves us and gave himself for us.
7. God’s Love Is Real
When we are going through seasons of trial and hurt, it’s easy to ask: Does God love me at all? The experience of loss, however, cannot affect nor disrupt His love for us. Paul said:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Separation from a job is a crushing, heartbreaking event. But it will not separate us from the love of God.
