Anxiety: Peering into the Uncertain Future

Anxiety all around is up because of all the uncertainties the future holds. Any uncertainty of a negative future will bring about anxiety.  It is our mind and body's attempts to prepare for the pain that is to come.  With it comes the false thinking that "if I'm prepared for the punishment, the less painful it will be"; not knowing that proliferating these negative thoughts in the head increases the pain that anxiety brings.

Anxiety is a reaction to an uncertain future and so, our natural reaction is to attempt to establish a sense of control over things.  And when human beings exert control, it is always geared towards the future.  We aim to prepare and secure the future to make sure it turns out the way we want it to be, in the way we expect it to be.

I grew up with my grandfather's karaoke system just parked in our living room. There's a programmed song in there that kept playing which stuck in my head.  It's about a little girl worried about the future and her mother comforting her in Spanish:

Que Sera Sera
Whatever will be will be
the future's not ours to see
Que Sera Sera

Come to think of it, it's really a beautiful song and it reminds me of my mom as well.

Anxiety pops out when we try to peep in that hole called the future and we see nothing but uncertainty.

All I can see right now is America and Israel attacking Iran, Iran firing back, the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, oil production has halted, the economy will lean to the side of scarcity once again and everyone will be affected.  On the other front, Israel is pounding on Gaza, Russia is busy with Ukraine, and God knows who else is killing who around the globe?  I simply don't see anything good coming out of these! i don't see how things will turn around! Help me, LORD!

Que Sera Sera....
THE FUTURE IS NOT OURS TO SEE

Only God can see the future:

I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come. 
Isaiah 46:9-10

God never told us to divine the future (it is in fact forbidden!); on the other hand, God did tell us to trust Him on it.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. 
Matthew 6:34

We are not God, therefore our job is simply to rest in Him and trust in Him:

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” 
Psalm 46:10

The Lord designed us to surrender to Him, to put our complete trust in Him no matter what our eyes see.  The question right now is: are you ready to let go and to commit things (the future) to Him? Or do you still aim to control things that are beyond you?

In Christian Counselling, I want to be clearer: Anxiety is not just about uncertainties of the future.  It is applying your power to control that which is uncontrollable.  It is trying to tame a beast much bigger and stronger than you.  I will suggest right now to let it go.  Trust in the goodness of The Lord and let things be.  

If you are bombarded by anxiety and it just keeps getting worse, do not be condemned.  Reach out to us at Grace Counselling Centre.  We deal with anxiety and anxiety related conditions.  I would encourage you to come for what I call "old-fashioned" traditional counselling where you will relate to an actual human being in Christ.

Send us a message through email: admin@gracecounsellors.com
or through Whatsapp at +65-98953786.

GCC Anxiety Resources:

Anxiety: Focusing on the Self and Forgetting The Lord

Meditating on God’s Power to Conquer Anxiety

Fears Anxieties: Meditations 15 January 2022