Where Does Faith Fit in Uncertain Times?

Last updated on: February 20, 2014 at 7:49 pm by Christian Piatt

Where Does Faith Fit in Uncertain Times? 2014-02-20T19:49:33+00:00 Christian Piatt

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This is another piece in the series I write for First Christian Church, Portland. I respond to questions about faith and theology in (hopefully) simple, straightforward terms. If you have a question you’d like me to take on, email me and I’ll do my best.

Where does your faith fit in times of chaos and uncertainty?

As a professional author and perennial contract worker, I’m getting kind of used to uncertainty. But I also get thrown off by unexpected things, probably more so than the average person. I like predictability, stability…we all do.

But life doesn’t work that way.

A fellow author once posed a question which helped put a lot of the things I stress about into perspective, when she wrote, “How much of what you’re obsessed with today will matter in 100 years?” It’s true; sometimes we get so short-sighted that we forget that, in the grander scheme of things, what is plaguing us today won’t really matter too much either way tomorrow.

There’s a Buddhist saying I like that takes this on too. It says, “If there’s a problem and there something you can do about it, don’t worry about it. If there’s a problem and there isn’t anything you can do about it, don’t worry about it.”

The point is that worry and anxiety over outcomes gets us nowhere. And as Amy reminded us in a recent sermon, our own expectations – which are little more than premeditated resentments – are actually at the source of much of that stress, even more than the circumstances themselves.

Personally, when I’m getting wrapped up in the chaos of the moment, or in stressing out about my inability to force reality to align with my expectations, I try to remember a part of the prayer that Jesus recited when he was more or less freaking out about his imminent crucifixion. Talk about stress! And yet, these simple words helped him stay grounded and focused on what really mattered.

Not my will, God, but Yours be done.

faith and uncertainty

not my will

not my will but yours be done

portland first christian church

Previous Post

February 19, 2014

The Trouble with Being Salt and Light

Next Post

February 23, 2014 Church Sign Epic Fails, "That's What She Said" Edition

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category atonement belief bible Bill O'Reilly Buddhism CCM children christian piatt christianity Contemporary Christian Music current events derek flood Easter education Everyday Sunday faith faith and culture Frank Schaeffer great commission Haaz Sleiman Hobby Lobby Homebrewed Culture humor ISIS Jesus John Paul Lederach Killing Jesus LGBTQ marc driscoll Mission Year Music My Jesus Project Nat Geo parenting politics popular culture postChristian prison reform Ray rice religion republicans sacrifice sexuality theology Uncategorized video violence wild goose festival World Vision young adults

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Ananias and Sapphira died after lying to the Holy Spirit about their offering.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE