Living in Uncertain Times

I recently moved to Dublin, Ireland for a job opportunity after living in the UK for over five years. The challenging part is leaving the UK (which has become more like home for me) to Dublin, Ireland, a country I have never visited or lived. I would have to leave everything I know – church family, friends, city to a place where I haven’t got a clue of what lies ahead. As I was gradually settling into work and the city, precisely 12 days after arriving in Dublin, there was total lockdown due to COVID-19. It has been so lonely without a community/family. It has been tough for me. It feels like being an orphan in a foreign land. I started questioning a lot of things about my relocation. Logically, it was the worst time for relocation.

On one hand, I was worried about my financial stability and my job. There was so much uncertainty. Would I get paid for the month after just working for nine days? Would my contract be cancelled since COVID-19 is affecting the progress of the project I was assigned to? If I get fired, how am I going to survive? Stimulus packages were only for taxpayers, not for folks who just relocated with no tax history. I had expended every reserve I had on relocation and settling down. Now, my bank account has started experiencing climate change. All these questions were messing with my head. It distracted me to the extent that I was trying to find comfort in other things. I tried to drown myself in the ocean of Netflix and the rivers of social media. I became intense with my relationships only to meet a brick wall as my friends were also trying to adjust to the unprecedented life. I realised that, just like me, my friends are also struggling. I end up being frustrated as things kept spiralling out of control.

How do I deal with the uncertainty? How do I take captive of my thoughts that are running wild? Where do I go from here? At such times, it was tad impossible to process everything going. Things were happening so fast. At that point, every structure of support had crumbled away. The raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves had come to reveal the genuineness of my faith. It had come to reveal to me that the substance of my faith must be a person, Christ. It must be Christ above all else. If my foundation is not on the solid rock, which is Christ, every other monument I build will fall like a pack of cards when the earth quakes and shakes.

Here’s how I’m walking through the journey.

1. Embrace the uncertainty and do what you have always done. Lean into these times. Call your loved ones and friends. Do some exercise. (I have a skipping rope that I use for forward and backward jumps. Sometimes I do as little as 50 jumps. Sometimes, 150+ jumps). Have lunch/dinner over video conferencing. Have fellowship with other believers where you can be encouraged. There’s so much power we can generate when we gather in the name of Christ. Join a bible study group with friends where the truth of the scripture is reinforced in your heart. Listen to Christ-exalting songs and sermons, audio bible. You may not be able to regulate what goes on with cable news, but you can regulate the atmosphere around your home. Mute the noise and prize the King who loves you. Stay informed but ensure your faith is also getting fortified. As you do this consciously, the peace of Christ will rule in your hearts and garrison it. This would lead you to a place of quiet confidence and rest in God, even amid the turmoil.
2. Turn the thoughts to prayers. At times, many thoughts may be racing through your mind. Turn them to prayers. Be sincere with God. He doesn’t only want to hear from us when we have praise and thanksgiving to offer. God invites us to bring even our darkest thoughts to him (Psalm.88:13-18, Psalm.61:1-3). God invites our full range of emotion, from jubilation to desperation and everything in between. Pour out your deepest desires and longings to God for He cares for you. The privilege of prayer extends not merely to bringing our “acceptable” thoughts and emotions to God, but to bring ALL our thoughts and emotions to him.
3. Don’t be socially isolated. While we are practising social distancing, we need to be socially aware and not isolated. Uncertain times can steal a lot; do not let it rob you of the joy and gift of friendship. Lean into others (friends, neighbours, colleagues etc) from afar and let them know you haven’t forgotten them. Join your church family online for service. Plug into whatever that’s being organised. God is still moving, COVID-19 or not. He is still touching lives.

This is not to say I still do not struggle in these changing times and seasons. Sometimes, I still find myself staying in bed for extra hours and being lost in thought. But at every point, whether on the mountains or in the valley; On the mountain bleak or on the stormy sea; upon the land or on the rolling sea; I haven’t been comfortless. My Heavenly Father watches over me.

Here are some thoughts from William C. Martin (1864-1914) that are helpful for the times we are in:

I trust in God wherever I may be,
Upon the land or on the rolling sea;
For come what may, from day to day,
My heavenly Father watches over me.

I trust in God, for, in the lion’s den,
On the battlefield, or in the prison pen;
Through praise or blame, through flood or flame,
My heavenly Father watches over me.

The valley may be dark, the shadows deep,
But oh, the shepherd guards his lonely sheep;
And through the gloom, he’ll lead me home,
My heavenly Father watches over me

These are uncertain and difficult times. Time in word and prayer may feel meaningless and lifeless. Fellowship with a community may be absent. This may be the reality of your Christian life in this quarantine. Press on! Light will dawn. For every overwhelmed heart, there is a rock of safety and refuge, a very present help in trouble.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27