The calendar rolled over to a new year, but for many of us, the challenges of 2025 remain. Facing the unknown, especially, is one of the greatest tests of faith. When the road ahead is unclear, trust does not come easily. Questions rise quickly, and fear is never far behind. We wonder how things will work out, whether our finances will be enough, or if we will have the strength to endure what lies ahead. Scripture never denies this tension. Instead, it speaks directly into it, reminding us that faith is often forged in moments where certainty is absent. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, KJV). Trust becomes most difficult precisely when understanding fails.
During periods of uncertainty, we often find ourselves tempted to take control of our situation. Waiting feels risky. Obedience feels slow. Control feels safer than surrender. Like Abraham attempting to secure God’s promise through his own plan, we are often tempted to rush ahead of God rather than rest in His timing (Genesis 16:1–4). Yet Scripture reminds us that human effort, when disconnected from trust, often produces anxiety rather than peace. God calls His people not to figure everything out, but to acknowledge Him in all their ways, trusting that He will direct their paths (Proverbs 3:6). Surrender is not weakness; it is faith expressed through restraint.
Fear thrives in uncertainty and seeks to intimidate the heart. It magnifies worst-case scenarios and minimizes God’s faithfulness. Isaiah speaks directly to this struggle: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God” (Isaiah 41:10). Fear loses its authority when God’s presence is remembered. Though circumstances may remain unclear, God does not withdraw when His people are afraid. He promises strength, help, and support even when confidence feels fragile. Faith does not require the absence of fear; it requires the decision not to be ruled by it.
Trusting God when the way is unclear is not easy. Stretching faith means choosing to believe what God has promised rather than what fear suggests. Jesus reminded His followers that the Father knows their needs and faithfully provides for His own (Matthew 6:31–33). Trust grows when we shift our focus from what we lack to who God is. He has never failed to take care of His people, and He will not begin now. Even when the future is unknown, God remains faithful, present, and able. The call is not to see the whole path, but to take the next step, believing that the One who goes before us will also sustain us along the way.
