3 Tips

3 Tips 1. Unknowns are an opportunity to slow down. It’s easy to see our world as constantly moving, bouncing from one thing to the next. While Unknowns seem like an inconvenience, they can actually be a blessing. Don’t get me wrong; we need to engage with others and with the world around us. But when our busyness comes at the expense of our physical health or relationship with God, an Unknown might be just the thing to halt us in whatever we’re doing to bring us closer to Him. I look at the life of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob. Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused of assault, and was left forgotten in a prison cell. He had no idea when he might be released from prison and was ultimately left waiting for two years. Yet his time of waiting wasn’t wasted. Joseph found favor with the warden and the other prisoners and was still shown God’s “faithful love” during this Unknown. In the end, Joseph still rose in the ranks to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. And he knew God was with him through it all, encouraging him in the darkest moments of the Unknown. 2. Unknowns are an opportunity to put things into perspective. As imperfect humans, we often become too absorbed with ourselves and our own little worlds. When something unexpected comes in, it can be used to shake us out of our narrow mindsets or selfish habits. It can provide us with the perspective and space needed to create change in our lives. I’m reminded of Esther, a young Jewish woman who was kidnapped from her life and home and forced to marry a dishonorable king. Soon after her marriage, a plot to massacre her people was discovered. Her cousin, Mordecai, encouraged her to use this new position to save her and her family from destruction, but Esther was initially hesitant. She knew speaking up and revealing herself as a Jew was a great risk, possibly leading to a death sentence. With Mordecai’s help putting this Unknown into a different perspective, Esther was able to see the significance of her place in that moment of time, allowing God to save His people once more. 3. Unknowns are an opportunity to see our amazing God at work. Let this one sit with you for a minute. You get to see God, our loving and faithful father, fully involved and working in your life in Unknown moments. While these aren’t the only times to see God at work, we often overlook His grace, especially when life is going really well. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was able to experience this firsthand. Though she thought her life was going to go in one direction, she accepted God’s call into the Unknown with humility. Mary trusted that God was fulfilling His promise to His people through her. Unknowns not only provide the opportunity, but they also make it hard to avoid God’s glory.