Trusting God in Uncertain Times

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." — Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)

If there is one thing that the past few years have taught us, it is that life is full of uncertainty.

Even in Singapore, uncertainty has become part of everyday life. The cost of living continues to rise. Electricity bills, groceries, and transport fares are more expensive than they used to be. Companies restructure, contracts come to an end, and many employees wonder whether their jobs will still be there next year. Fresh graduates worry about finding their first job, while others wonder whether they will be able to keep up with the changing demands of the workplace.

Beyond these concerns, many of us carry personal burdens that others may not see. Some are caring for elderly parents whose health is declining. Others are facing financial pressures, medical issues, or family challenges. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring.

Over the past two years, this reality has become very personal to me.

When I graduated from university in 2024, I looked forward to starting my career. Like many fresh graduates, I thought that if I worked hard, remained diligent, and gave my best, things would gradually fall into place. However, my career has not unfolded the way I expected.

Since graduating, I have gone through permanent roles that did not work out, contract positions, interviews, and long periods of waiting. More recently, my current role is also coming to an end. Once again, I find myself updating my resume, submitting job applications, attending interviews, and waiting to hear back from employers.

If you have ever looked for a job, you probably understand what that feels like. After every interview, I find myself checking my email and phone more often than I should. Every notification catches my attention. I wonder whether I answered the questions well enough or whether another candidate was simply a better fit. Like many people, I naturally long for certainty. I want to know where I will be working next month and whether everything will work out.

If I am honest, there have been times when I have felt discouraged and anxious. Yet through this season, I have come to realise that Christians have never been called to live by certainty. We are called to live by faith.

As I reflected on His Word, I realised that uncertainty has always been part of the lives of God's people. When God called Abraham, He did not reveal every step of the journey ahead. The book of Hebrews tells us that Abraham obeyed, "not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8).

Joseph spent years as a slave and prisoner before God's purpose became clear. From a human perspective, nothing seemed to make sense. Yet throughout his trials, the Bible repeatedly tells us that "the LORD was with Joseph."

David was anointed to be king, yet he spent years fleeing from Saul before God's promise came to pass. Those years were not wasted. They were years in which David learned to depend upon the Lord.

None of them knew what tomorrow would bring. Neither do we.

James reminds us not to presume upon the future:

"Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'" (James 4:15)

There is nothing wrong with planning. We should study hard, work diligently, and provide for our families. However, we must also remember that every plan is ultimately subject to God's will. We do not control tomorrow, but we know the One who does.

One lesson this season has taught me is that my identity cannot be found in my career. Before I am an employee, a colleague, or a job seeker, I am first a Christian.

Jobs may come and go. Contracts may end. Interviews may not lead to offers. My greatest purpose has never been my occupation; it has always been to glorify God and remain faithful to Him.

This season has also reminded me that waiting upon the Lord is not passive. Isaiah writes:

"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Waiting upon the Lord does not mean sitting back and doing nothing. It means continuing to trust Him while faithfully carrying out the responsibilities He has given us.

For me, that means continuing to pray, continuing to worship, continuing to study His Word, and continuing to serve wherever I can. Whether I have a permanent job, a contract role, or am between jobs, I can still encourage my brethren, teach Bible classes when given the opportunity, participate in mission trips, and be actively involved in the Lord's work. My usefulness in God's kingdom is not determined by my job title but by my willingness to remain faithful.

One question I have had to ask myself during this season is: When challenges arise, is God truly the first One I turn to?

It is easy to rely on our own abilities. Yet Paul reminds us:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer may not immediately change our circumstances, but it changes our hearts. It reminds us that our confidence is not in ourselves but in God.

Looking back, I can already see God's faithfulness. Although my career has not followed the path I expected, every experience has taught me something. Some experiences humbled me. Others revealed areas where I needed to grow. All of them have reminded me that God's wisdom is greater than mine.

As I write this article, I still do not know where I will be working in the coming months. I continue to apply for jobs, prepare for interviews, and commit my plans to the Lord, remembering the words of James: "If the Lord wills."

While I do not know what tomorrow holds, I know that God remains faithful. The writer of Hebrews records God's comforting promise:

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

That promise sustained Abraham, Joseph, David, and countless faithful Christians throughout history. It remains true for us today.

The uncertainties of life will continue. The cost of living may rise. Our health may decline. Jobs may change. Our plans may not always unfold as we hope.

But God does not change.

May we continue to trust Him with all our hearts, wait patiently upon Him, remain faithful in His service, and remember the words of Solomon:

"Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

No matter how uncertain life becomes, we can face tomorrow with confidence because our hope is not in this world, but in our faithful and unchanging God.