In times of global uncertainty and insecurity, the people of God must continually turn to the Lord in prayer and faithful living. Join Boyd Bailey and the writing team at Wisdom Hunters as we seek unchanging truth in a changing world, remembering that God’s favor finds us in our fear. No matter how dark the night may be, His power reaches us in our weakness.
Wisdom Hunters
Day 1
Scriptures: Romans 8:22-23, Psalms 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, 1 Corinthians 16:13
Courageous, Not Anxious
By Tripp Prince
If you’ve been watching or reading the news lately, words like “unprecedented,” “historic,” “uncharted territory,” and “never before seen” have been used in great abundance. Yet, we must remember there is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing fundamentally different about the world this week than the world of a month ago or a year ago or 1,000 years ago. As C.S. Lewis said in his 1939 piece entitled Learning in War-Time, “I think it is important to try to see the present calamity in a true perspective. The war creates no new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it.”
On the one hand, I hesitate to use a reference to World War II in the fear of overstating or escalating the moment we find ourselves in now when what is needed is an unwavering posture of peace. However, on the other hand, I find his words to be a powerful reminder of a foundational truth that applies today. As St. Paul says, “All creation has been groaning in the pains of childbirth” (Rom 8:22). Each and every one of us, regardless of our circumstances or personal situation, are weak and in need of the mercy of God. Though we may live through seasons of life in which it is easier to ignore this than others, each one of us will eventually have to confront our frailty and the pain of life.
A greater awareness of human need deepens in us an awareness of the mercy of God. This awareness is the beginning of our transformation, from fearful to courageous, from weak to strong, from selfish to self-giving. And in times of great need, the world desperately needs the church to embody this kind of transformation!
You and I need this courage, endurance, and character to move beyond our fear and step out as the hands and feet of Jesus. A sign of immaturity in our faith is our inability to care for anything or anyone other than ourselves. A sign that our suffering and trials are producing in us transformation is when we begin to truly think of the good of our neighbor and the needs of the most vulnerable in our midst, not just making sure our own backs are covered.
If you are a follower of Jesus, this is what you signed up for! In times of financial uncertainty, when you’re tempted to shut down your finances and keep everything safe and secure, what if instead you pushed against that temptation and made an intentional gift of generosity this week? When facing a public health crisis, what would it look like to intentionally seek the health and well-being of your most vulnerable neighbors and family members?
The life of wisdom that you daily cultivate is not just for your sake but is meant to be deployed in seasons like this. So be bold for the sake of others, as we all rely daily on the goodness and mercy of God!
Prayer: Father, as we rest in Your mercy and care for us, make us courageous agents of Your love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application: Cook a meal for a neighbor or make a generous donation toward someone in great need this week as a way to intentionally be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Day 2
Scriptures: John 1:11-12, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Ephesians 4:8, James 1:17
Peace Over Fear
There are countless ways of speaking of our life with God. A journey of faith. A pursuit of the Lord. Intentional discipleship. We could go on and on. And while these phrases highlight the importance of tending to our life with God and seeking after Him with purpose and passion, we must never forget that our pursuit of God is based upon His pursuit of us. In fact, as John 1 reminds us, we His own people failed to accept him, failed to tend to this relationship as we are meant to do. Yet, even in our fear and weakness, God gave and gives Himself to us as a gift – a gift of power and identity that is meant to be received with gratitude and joy.
This week, as we are nine months away from Christmas, Christians around the world remember the story of the Annunciation, the moment in which the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she would bear a son, a son who “Will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:32). When read together with the words from John’s Gospel, these stories tell us something profound: God’s promise of power reaches us in our frailty and fear.
Interestingly, rather than January 1st, for 600 years in medieval Europe the Annunciation was treated as “New Year’s Day,” marking a new year, a new season, the start of a new story. What a powerful statement of truth! When the light of Christ shines into the darkness (2 Cor 4:6), God breaks into our place of greatest need and speaks life, hope, and peace.
We desperately need to be reminded of this peace. In ways that many who are living today have never experienced, we face a moment of global uncertainty and insecurity, one that heightens fears of scarcity and personal loss. It raises questions of economic stability, political unrest, and institutional failure. And while the specifics may be unique to our time, the underlying fears are not. As such, are we able to hear in our own day Gabriel’s words to Mary as words spoken to us? “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Lk 1:30).
God’s favor finds us in our fear. His power reaches us in our weakness. And no matter how dark the night may be, a new day is always dawning.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the incredible gift of peace and hope, given through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application: How can you today, like Mary, receive and ponder with gratitude the gift of God given to you?
Day 3
Scriptures: Proverbs 10:25, Job 20:5, Psalms 37:10, Acts 2:25, Hebrews 12:28
Economic Storm
Economic storms expose evil, as when the ocean tide goes out, those naked in the water are exposed. Dead wood is swept away, to be seen no more. It may seem like the wicked are prospering, but eventually they will be found out. The Holy Spirit shakes out sin so it can be seen and judged. As the Lord promised His children in the past, “I will shake the house of Israel” (Amos 9:9).
What use is it to make a lot of noise and draw the attention of the elite and then lose your credibility under scrutiny? Economic storms collapse businesses and ministries that are dependent on debt and, conversely, cause good churches to increase in attendance. There is a purging of pride, and all manner of excess is exposed. What really matters in life becomes the priority: faith, family, friends, food, and shelter. Storms reveal worth.
Those who cling to Christ are not shaken. He is our cornerstone that no degree of chaos can challenge. The Bible says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Psalm 125:1). The righteous cannot be moved, because their Master is immovable. Therefore, stand firm in the Lord.
Your stability in your Savior is security for your family, friends, and work associates. Your unwavering faith during difficult days helps them replace panic with peace, fear with faith, and compromise with conviction. Indeed, if all you have left is a firm foundation of faith, begin rebuilding God’s big vision. Are you a wise builder?
Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep my focus on you and not on stuff during economic ups and downs, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application: How can I build my life, home, and work on the solid rock of Jesus?
Day 4
Scriptures: Matthew 6:25-34, 1 John 5:14-15, John 14:27, Isaiah 30:15, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9,Hebrews 13:5-6, Philippians 4:19
Hope for Times of Worry and Uncertainty
By Shana Schutte
Have you ever been so overcome with worry that you can’t sleep, and your mind is spinning with concerns about how the future will work out? Have you mentally tried to put the pieces of your future life together because you are struggling to trust the Lord? Oh, boy! Have I been there.
There are times in life when worry comes knocking that it can be a challenge to calm one’s mind and just rest in the Lord’s love. Perhaps in those moments, He would say to you and me…
When you try to arrange the pieces of your future where I have not illuminated the path before you, you’ll be in torment. (Isaiah 30:15)
I will care for you each step of the way. I am caring for you now, and I will take care of then, just as I always have. To cease from worry means you’ll be able to rest in peace. But why do you worry so? I will never leave you and I will never forsake you.
I will only illuminate the path directly in front of you and it will always be this way while you are on the earth. When you allow your mind to dwell on a bad report or the awful things that could happen in the future, you aren’t living in my love, and you are imagining moments wherein I have not yet given you my light. (Philippians 4:8)
I only give daily bread.
So, stay in the moment. Live in the present. Focus your mind directly on the decisions directly before you, not on those tasks next week, next month, or next year. That part of your path has not yet been illuminated. My grace is for now. It’s in the now. It’s always in the now. When tomorrow is today, you’ll find grace there too, but not until then. Only then will I give you the grace to do what you need to do. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Rest in my love. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5-6). I will provide all your needs and give you strength and wisdom for tasks and decisions as you have need—and not until then. (Philippians 4:19)
Stay in today. I am here.
I love you.
Jesus
Prayer: Lord, please help me to stay in the day and to focus on just what is ahead of me. You will take care of each day as I have need. Praise you, Jesus.
Application: Pour your worries out to the Lord and tell Him that you trust Him. Finally, consider the Lord’s faithfulness for the problems you have had in the past and praise Him for the answers that are coming.
Day 5
Scriptures: Revelation 18:17, 1 Timothy 6:17, Job 13:15, Psalms 42:5, Matthew 10:42, John 17:8, Proverbs 23:5
Uncertainty of Wealth
If there is one thing that is certain, it is the uncertainty of wealth. Riches can fluctuate up and down like a terrifying roller coaster ride. My financial net worth can evaporate overnight, or incrementally deteriorate over time. Hope in wealth is a recipe for sleepless nights and emotional fatigue. Why would I place my hope in money that migrates all over the map of life? Hope in money leads to false security and creates discontentment.
Yes, it is embarrassing to lose anything, especially money, but it can be replaced. Financial purging peels back our true intent and exposes the object of our affections. Do we love money, or do we love God, because we can’t love both. Fortunately, hope in heaven is most certain. Christ is our reliable compass during a cash crisis. Jesus’ utmost desire is for you to toil for true riches. (Luke 16:11)
True riches are trust in the Lord, contentment, and generosity. It is your passionate pursuit of true riches that trumps worries over worldly wealth. Do your children and friends see you lament in prayer over the lost souls of men more than the loss of money? What is the value of one person finding Jesus in a personal and growing relationship? Unworldly wealth compounds eternally with certain rewards, while temporal worldly wealth depreciates and is destroyed over time.
Therefore, take this time of financial transition and place your affections above where your certainty is in Christ (Colossians 3:1-4). Gently remind the fearful that fear of God and loving people are true riches. Money comes and goes, but Jesus remains faithful. Hope in Christ, not cash, brings contentment and the enjoyment of true wealth—this is for certain. Many have never regretted being generous in the moment, but sad are those who wait to give only to experience the evaporation of their net worth. We can ever depend on our generous Savior Jesus!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me use money to further Your kingdom and not my own.
Application: Where can I give a generous financial gift to contribute to Your kingdom and not my own?
Day 6
Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 43:19, Isaiah 55:12, Job 8:7, Acts 2:23, Hebrews 11:39-40, Psalms 40:5
Uncertainty is God’s Opportunity
God knows the plans He has for His children—and His plans are good, because God is good. But a child does not always understand the overall plan, it’s more a real-time experience, enjoyed in the moment—where memories are made. Just as godly parents can be trusted to nurture and care for their child, so our heavenly Father is 100% trustworthy to plan ahead for His children. Especially during uncertain days, we can lean into Christ’s certainty. God opportunities are all around waiting patiently for eyes of faith to lock in on and see the Spirit’s delightful work.
Jeremiah writes much needed encouragement to the community of God’s people held captive by the Babylonians—for exile breeds people desperate for help from heaven—and perseverance grows stronger where a future hope abides. Living in a culture counter to a people’s values and beliefs becomes a test of trust and obedience. Is the Lord still at work when a small group of His followers are surrounded by a mostly secular society? Maybe more so, because the futility of the faithless grows darker in contrast to the loving light of felicity found in faithful living. Like an innovative entrepreneur God capitalizes on uncertain times with the certainty of Christ’s love. (Malachi 3:16).
Though it may be camouflaged in uncertainty, what God opportunity waits to surprise you? Is the Spirit flushing you out to lead at a larger level? Improved leadership skills are developed beyond the pages of a good book discussion—real life is where you apply what you know, and learn what you don’t know. Followers do not expect perfection in a leader, but they do look for a leader who admits and learns from their mistakes. It may be wise to problem solve by including those in the decision-making process who are most affected by any new policies and procedures.
Most of all, be intentional in communion with Christ. There is no better way to find the way of God’s will than to hear His heart in His word—the Bible. The Spirit’s message is best discerned by a listening and teachable soul. To better understand your life’s blueprints, invest time with your architect—Jesus Christ. Every detail matters to your Maker. Like your wedding day, His plan is customized just for you. You can be certain that your life is an opportunity for the Lord to shine His love through you. By faith, accept the certainty of Christ’s perfect plan—just for you.(Psalm 40:5).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your good plans for me, customized for my needs.
Application: What is the Lord teaching me about Himself during my days of uncertainty?
Day 7
Scriptures: Proverbs 12:25, Matthew 6:33-34, Philippians 4:6, Luke 21:34, Matthew 4:4
Worry Weighs Us Down
Worry is wearisome. It is fatigue to our emotions like physical pain is to our bodies. Worry can trigger stomachaches, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety disorders and depression. It is an enemy to a joy filled and productive life. Worry can so weigh you down so that you are immobilized by lack of energy and fear.
Your family tree may have borne the fruit of worry over generations, but you can purge obsession with negative thinking through trust in the Lord. Jesus’ teaching is very clear, (Matthew 6:33-34). Exercised trust energizes the weary.
Your personality may lend itself to worry. You can see it in your furrowed brow, or brooding countenance. You worry about the economy and its effect on your retirement. You wring your hands over the war and wonder when it will ever end. You are stressed out over work because of situations and people you are unable to change. Anxiety may have paralyzed you as a parent because you don’t feel qualified to carry out your responsibilities. (Philippians 4:6)
Alcohol has become your outlet for those things you cannot control, but the gnawing fear is still there the next day. One simple solution is to make a two-column prayer list with the headings ‘Things I can’t change’ and ‘Things I can change’. Ask God for faith and patience with the former and wisdom and courage to act on the latter. Prayer is your time-tested prescription for worry.
Furthermore, look for those who long to be encouraged, who feel trapped by the anxieties of life (Luke 21:34). They need the truth of God’s word because the cares of this world try to marginalize the truth. Truth can be forgotten in the fearful suffering of severe trials. Your kind words remind them of Christ’s care and concern for their health, family and their faith.
Lift yourself and others out of the downward spiral of depression by cheering them up with truth. Read the Bible out loud with a friend and meditate on its promises that are filled with hope and encouragement. Use uncertainty, not as a reason to worry, but rest in the Lord. You are freed up when you don’t fret but apply faith instead. Above all else, His word wins over worry and provides strength for your faith journey! (Matthew 4:4)
Prayer: What promise from the Lord can I rest in and trust to overcome my chronic worry?
Application: What worry do I need to release to God so I am not weighed down?