Many times these thoughts of mine are a result of circumstances that I am living through but are common to all of us. Many of you will know that my wife of 54 years and I are facing times of uncertainty due to her health challenges, but as I commented to a friend the other day I am practising “passing the buck” — casting all my cares on Jesus who cares for us. The temptation is to let anxiety turn into a fearful future, so I turn to scripture for advice.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous words—“We have nothing to fear except fear itself”—were spoken during the Great Depression, a time when economic uncertainty weighed heavily on the nation. His statement captures a truth that is as relevant now as it was then: fear itself can be more crippling than the reality we face. While some fear is a natural response to danger, a different kind of fear haunts many of us—the fear of the unknown future.
Fear of future outcomes often arises when we imagine what could go wrong and then dwell on those possibilities. It’s the fear that whispers, What if I fail? What if I can’t handle what’s coming? What if things get worse? This type of fear feeds anxiety and robs us of peace. It thrives in uncertainty and pulls our attention away from the present moment, where God calls us to live.
Jesus directly addressed this fear in the Sermon on the Mount: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34, NLT). This is not a call to ignore planning or preparation, but an invitation to release the burdens of tomorrow into God’s hands. When we try to control what hasn’t yet happened, we step into a role we were never meant to fill. Only God holds the future, and He invites us to trust Him with it.
Fear of the future often stems from a misplaced sense of security. We imagine that stability will come when we have enough money, health, or control over circumstances.
But Scripture reminds us that true security is found only in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT). Trusting God means surrendering the illusion that we can predict or manage every possible outcome.
The Apostle Paul offers a practical path to freedom from anxiety: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT). Here, Paul connects the release of anxiety to prayer, gratitude, and focusing on God’s presence. Peace doesn’t come from resolving every unknown—it comes from knowing the One who already sees and holds the future.
It’s worth noting that fear of the future often grows when we rehearse worst-case scenarios in our minds. We mentally live through disasters that haven’t even happened, yet our bodies and emotions react as if they’re real. This is why Scripture calls us to renew our minds. “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2, NLT). By filling our minds with God’s promises instead of “what-ifs,” we reshape our perspective. One of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture comes from God’s words in Isaiah: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NLT). Notice the focus here—God’s presence, not the absence of difficulty, is the source of courage. The future may still hold challenges, but we are never sent into it alone.
Isaiah also remind us of God’s faithfulness in every season. “I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you” (Isaiah 46:4, NLT). This verse assures us that God’s care does not expire; it spans our entire life. If He has been faithful in the past, we can trust Him with the chapters still unwritten.
Breaking free from the fear of future outcomes is not a one-time decision but a daily practice. It involves: Bringing our concerns to God in prayer—not just once, but continually; Choosing gratitude for God’s past faithfulness as a reminder that He will not abandon us; Focusing on today instead of being paralyzed by what may come tomorrow; and Meditating on Scripture to strengthen our trust and reshape our perspective.
Ultimately, fear of the future loses its grip when we remember who holds it. Our lives are not random or left to fate; they are in the hands of a loving, sovereign God. As David declares in Psalm 23:6, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (NLT). With that assurance, tomorrow becomes less of a threat and more of a canvas for God’s grace to be revealed.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study