Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance
the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14). NIV
Haunted by the past. Fearful of that reoccurrence again. Each of us live with our nightmares of our lives. We’re running from the past but only find that we have to face our fears in the present or in the future.
How do we stand strong in the midst of uncertainty? For about 10 years, my wife has been receiving Electro Cardio Treatment (ECT) to treat her depression due to her stroke. I noticed her cognitive decline
and wondered if there was any alternative treatment for her.
Praise God, there is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). She completed 30 sessions, but will it work and how effective will it be? We’re living in the unknown. We’re faced with the out-of-pocket monthly expenses without knowing how many sessions she will need each month. Insurance will not be covering the additional sessions. Return to ECT with medical coverage with adverse effect for my wife or TMS with uncertain effect and out of pocket expenses that has no limit are my choices. Not great choices to say the least. Which would you choose? Fear of the unknown of the present and the future lies before us.
The Israelites faced the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. Trapped is the word with no positive alternative was their thoughts. Surrender and return to slavery or die attempting to swim across the Red Sea are not great options. Fear paralyzed and consumed them.
You may be facing an uncertain future. You can foresee the options. The choices may look bleak to you -going from bad to worse. Fearful that you can’t find a job, facing an overly demanding manager and work load, financially being overwhelmed by bills, having an illness in a family member or living alone are fears that we may experience sometime in our lives. Fear grips our lives and controls our decisions.
As Moses once said to the Israelites, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance
the LORD will bring you today.”, so let us stand firm in our faith so that we can see the goodness of God in the land of the living. And when God opens that door for us, let us walk by faith and not by sight even as the Israelites walked in awe through the Reed Sea toward the Promised Land.
Kingston Tong
September 1, 2024