We’re on a depression awareness tour in Namibia. As a tourist, one sees the country differently. You hear the concerns about the country’s economy and can actually identify with that, because the levels of anxiety are quite high in our country. We don’t know exactly what the future holds for the country.

But again and again we hear people appealing to God. They believe whole-heartedly that God will not disappoint them. God held them safely and carried them throughout the years. God was always there through thick and thin. He will walk with them through the next crisis.

They speak from experience. They’ve been through hard times and every time they made it to the other side, because God never abandoned them. Their faith is steadfast and they trust 100% that God will help. Therefore, we can say with Paul: ³You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully.

All of us often end up at a difficult crossroad. Often with no answers and no idea about what the future holds. We might have done our calculations, but where we are now, every little calculation is wrong. All that is certain is that we don’t know where to turn.

What now?

I was talking to a good friend. His work is to watch over other people’s money on the stock market and to advise them on when to buy and when to sell. He did his calculations well, but the exact opposite happened with the rand-dollar exchange rate and he is worried.

What now?

I suspect we can learn from the people in Namibia. And we must learn from the young Christians of Thessalonica. We must trust in God. We must allow our trust in God to grow stronger and stronger. God will never abandon us. He is steadfast and always the same. He is with us the whole day and will never let us down. In a way, God will help each of us to let go of uncertainty.

I’m reminded of the story of the man walking on the beach and looking at his footprints in the sand. The man saw two lines of footprints where God had walked with him. Then he noticed that there was only one line of footprints in the hard times. Immediately he wanted to know why God had abandoned him in times of suffering. We know that was not what had happened, but that it was God’s footprints deep in the sand, because He carried the man through the hard times.

There where you are struggling with hardship in your life, where you have made your calculations, but the reality seems to be the complete opposite, know that God will carry you. He will not abandon you. And if need be, He will even pick you up and carry you for a while.

You just have to trust. You have to know for sure that God will not let go of you.

Scripture

2 Thessalonians 1:3-6

Reflection

Where do you struggle?

Do you trust God?

Do you believe that God will carry you too?

Prayer

Lord, I want to trust You with my whole life. Thank you for carrying me where I can’t walk myself. Amen.