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by Joyce Trevolt, Associate Lay Leader, West District

In August 1967, a song was released by The Rascals titled, “How can I be sure?”

How can I be sure?
In a world that is constantly changing?
How can I be sure?
Where I stand with you?

How many of us have been asking the same question? ‘How can I be sure in a world that is constantly changing?’ Our world is changing, our cities, our neighborhoods, our homes, our jobs, our families, our own lives. All of it is changing. In the mist of it all, what can we be sure of?

How can I be sure
I really, really, really, wanna knooow
I really, really, really, wanna knooow

That depends on who is in control of the changes in your life. The problem is not how can I be sure, but who is in control? Who or what are you allowing to control you? Is it all the negative information being broadcast to the public? Is it a frighten family member? Co-worker? Or the fact that you yourself are not in control? When we have no control over what may happen in our lives or the lives of our loved ones, we let the gods of anxiety, worry, and desperation take hold. What does that look like in your life? A life out of control. In reality, we have no control over our lives if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our lives are under our Lord’s control.

In the Old Testament, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. Joshua was to lead the Israelites across the River Jordan to the promise land. Joshua’s life was about to change. But God said to him in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

God promised that he would be with Joshua wherever he went. And God was with Joshua. Joshua went into the promised land and lived there for a long time. As Joshua’s time on earth was coming to an end, he spoke with the Israelites telling them to remember the Covenant between their forefathers and God. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Are you serving the Lord?

If your belief is in the God who promises to be with you wherever you go, then ‘throw away the gods’ of worry, anxiety, and desperation. Jesus said we would have hardships in life, but we would not be alone. The Holy Spirit would be with us. The God who was with Joshua in the yesteryear, is the same God who is with us today as we go through our daily lives and will be with us in our tomorrows to guide and leads us safely home.

How can I be sure
In a world that’s constantly changing?
How can I be sure?

I’ll be sure with faith.  “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.” (Psalm 125:1)

I’ll be sure with God. “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:11) And Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

In a world that’s constantly changing, I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

Amen.

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Author: Joyce Trevolt

The Desert Southwest Conference is a diverse and loving organization with open doors to a variety of people and partners in ministry. Celebrating our connection and diversity, we offer various resources. Content on this site includes information from other organizations that may not reflect the official policies or Social Principles of The United Methodist Church or the Desert Southwest Conference.

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