Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-55, Psalm 62:1
When I’m drowning in uncertainty—wondering what my family will eat for dinner, when I’ll find time to tackle the laundry, or how I’ll squeeze in Bible study prep—I often catch myself starting to make lists and flow charts, anything that resembles a semblance of control.
But then there are the bigger uncertainties that we can’t solve with a well-planned schedule: Will my kids grow up to know and love Jesus? Will my closest friends still be part of my life a few years from now, or will they move away? What will happen if we decide to change churches?
Uncertainty is unavoidable, but our response to it is what shapes our faith.
In Luke 1, Mary received life-altering news: She would “conceive and give birth to a son” by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:31). Imagine the questions that may have flooded her mind: What would this mean for her engagement to Joseph? How would her family and neighbors respond? Could she really trust that what the angel said was true? Scripture doesn’t tell us every thought she had, but it’s hard to imagine that she didn’t wrestle with uncertainty. Yet instead of spiraling into panic, Mary chose a different response. She lifted her voice in praise:
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
—Luke 1:46–47
Rather than focusing on the future doubts, Mary remembered the character of God and what He had done for His people. She anchored her heart not in what she could predict but in what she knew about the Lord.
We can follow Mary’s example of praising God in uncertainty by remembering His character. Whenever I take time to write down the ways God has been present in my life in recent weeks, I’m always surprised by how faithful He has been—not because I doubt God is faithful but because my eyes are so blinded by my worries that I don’t even notice how God is taking care of things for me. I wonder, how did I miss all of this? Why do I so quickly let overwhelm be my default response when I can’t see a way forward? When uncertainty grows, why does my faith so often shrink?
Remembering God’s faithfulness shifts our perspective. It reminds us that God, who has carried us before, will be faithful again. That’s why David could rest his confidence in the character of God and sing, “I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him” (Psalm 62:1).
Our faith is strengthened not by having all the answers but by remembering the character of God.
Written by Bailey Hurley
