My Peace Has A Source – When The Future Looks Uncertain

Last updated on: August 24, 2026 at 4:58 pm by Michele Howe

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My Peace Has A Source – When The Future Looks Uncertain 2026-08-24T16:58:27-05:00 Michele Howe

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My Peace In Times of Change

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5, 6

I find my own perspective changes when I can let the present be something God is shaping for a future I cannot see – and that something is good because God is good. Even in the darker moments when I wonder if I have indeed missed God through my own hardheadedness (a genuine possibility), I am comforted by remembering that I belong to Christ – and I cannot, then, be truly lost again. It helps me to stop looking so hard for the certain and lean the weight of my life on the God who owns them all.

Paula Rinehart

Grace’s hands trembled as she pushed send to her resignation letter to the superintendent of the school where she had been an elementary school age teacher for over thirty years. In her heart, Grace knew it was time to let go of her treasured career in favor of spending more time with her beloved grandchildren. Grace and her husband Steve conducted yearly planning meetings at the beginning of every new year. Once the holidays were a thing of the past and all the decorations were stored away and celebrations were behind them, Grace and Steve would gather their planning tools composed of their current and projected finances; their healthcare plans; as well as their dreams and desires for after retirement.

Love Knows No Boundaries

Hands down, the number one priority was for both of them to have the opportunities to spend more time…much more time with their eight grandchildren. Of Grace and Steve’s three adult children only one lived nearby. The other two lived at opposite ends of the country which meant each year they only saw two of their children and grands once during the holidays and once during the summer months. It just wasn’t enough anymore. Grace especially felt the desire to invest more of herself into her quickly growing up grandchildren because she was reminded daily of the needs all children have and longed to shower love on her own grands.

Love Sees Possibilities Everywhere

When her third-grade class celebrated grandparents’ day, Grace felt real regret that she wasn’t able to be present with her own grandchildren at their schools so far away. When she decorated her classroom for each of the holidays, Grace often felt melancholy for the same reason. So finally at long last, it was mutually decided that this would be Grace’s final year to teach.

Love Trusts That God Is With Us In Times Of Change

But for Grace’s part, she began to experience some doubts and some fear. What would her life look like now if she wasn’t teaching? Grace realized much of her identity was defined by her role as a teacher. It was a bit overwhelming to think about. Still, Grace believed it was time, perhaps even past time for her to take a leap of faith and begin something new. So, she did.

* * *

Change can be unsettling and daunting. It be can frightening even. Especially when we’ve invested long and hard in a career, a home, a church, or a relationship, And yet there is a time for change in each of our lives. As Grace and Steve soon realized, even with all their wise planning the conclusion of one life season to make way for the next can be daunting. Both Grace and Steve soon recognized they would need to learn how to remake their lives as a retired couple. They would now have more time at their disposal. They would have to learn how to recreate their hours and days to make a new and different life and one that was still fruitful for the Lord.

God Will Give Us Grace With The Unknown Future

Grace felt her heartstrings begin to tug at her whenever she thought about giving up teaching permanently until Steve pointed out to her, “Honey, you’ll always be a teacher. It’s in your blood. Now you’ll just be using all that creativity and skills to teach our grandchildren.” Grace nodded in agreement. “But it’s still hard,” she conceded. Steve grabbed her hand and they began to pray and give thanks for their long and fruitful careers where God had blessed their efforts all along the way.

God Directs Our Steps In Love And Faithfulness

As they continued to make their plans for the coming months and years, a slow and steady peace enveloped them both. The more they talked to each other about upcoming visits with their children and grandchildren, both Grace and Steve felt the excitement grow. More importantly, they intentionally spent more time before the Lord asking him to direct their paths wherever they may lead.

Take-away Action Thought

When I am about to embark on some new and different life venture, I will be intentional about spending quality time with God each and every day. I will meditate upon the verses in Proverbs 3 which assure me that as I trust in the Lord and submit to him, he will make my paths straight.

My Heart’s Cry to You, O Lord

Father, please help me to trust you with this change in my life. I believe that you have led me to choose this new path. But I still feel uncertain at times because it is hard to let go of all that is so familiar to me. I want to be at peace and be confident in your guidance as I step out in faith but I’m often nervous and I sometimes waver. Give me your divine wisdom and understanding and please make my paths straight. Help me to enter into this new season of life, this fresh new opportunity to serve others in love, with a grace-filled heart of gratitude. Amen.

Practicing Grace and Gratitude

Grace and gratitude from God – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Every morning this week, I will begin my day with a prayer of thanks to God for caring for me, providing for me, and making a way for me according to his perfect eternal plan.
Grace and gratitude in me – In all your ways submit to him. At mealtimes this week, along with giving thanks for the food set before me, I’ll thank the Lord for protecting me from harm and for orchestrating my paths through life even when I didn’t always understand where the next step might take me.
Grace and gratitude in life – He will make your paths straight. At the close of each day, I’ll prayerfully reflect upon my day and be especially mindful of how God walked ahead of and with me wherever I stepped. I will sleep in peace knowing that God is always watching over me both day and night.

General Christian

Family, Parenting and Religion

About Michele Howe

Michele Howe is the author of 31 books for women, children, and families. She has published over 3000 articles, reviews, and curricula. Her newest release, Brave Faith for Hard Things, guides believers into a more steady and peaceful calm even in the midst of life's most trying seasons. You can read more about the author here.

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