Uncertainty is a Good Thing

I've been thinking about something a lot lately. Why do people in ministry struggle with uncertainty so much? I served at a church as youth pastor for five years, and for the most part I had it pretty good. Decent salary (for a youth pastor), benefits, a good-size ministry, and a pretty good sense of security that all of this would continue. There were moments of uncertainty (pastor changes, pay cuts, changing vision), but for the most part I felt pretty certain about things.

Since embarking upon our church planting adventure nothing has been certain! Personal finances, church finances, ministry location, our housing situation, etc. I have come to a point where I pretty much expect uncertainty in ministry, and in all honesty I think I'm ok with that. When I look at the Scriptures and read about the people who did great things for God there was a whole lot of uncertainty for these folks.

- How certain was Noah that the whole ark thing was legit and would really pan out?

- How much certainty did Abraham have when God called him out of Ur, or to sacrifice his son on an altar?

- How certain was Moses that the Hebrews could cross the Red Sea without Pharoah's army catching up with them?

- How certain was David that he could defeat a giant?

- Was Naomi certain that Ruth could change their fate and bring redemption to their family?

- How certain was Mary that her baby was God?

- How certain were the disciples that Jesus was the Messiah?

- How certain was Paul that he could take the Gospel to the ends of the earth?

It seems that the story of Scripture, more often than not, was that God's people really didn't have much certainty, security, and comfort. Somewhere we came to this point where people of God and ministers of the gospel expected these things. If God's call upon his people is at all similar today (which I think it it is) then pastoral transitions, salaries (or lack thereof), church size changes, church planting obstacles should all be expected even though they bring great uncertainty. In fact if you are certain about all of the aspects of your life and/or ministry right now then you may not truly be following God's call.

What's amazing to me isn't that Noah built the ark, that the Red Sea was parted, or that the Virgin Birth happened. If God truly is the creator and sustainer of the universe then these things are entirely possible. What is amazing to me is that the men and women of the Bible who did great things for God were willing to step out into the corridors of uncertainty, and give God the opportunity the do something incredible.

Uncertainty should not surprise us if we're trying to seek God. Uncertainty is expected. Uncertainty is a good thing. I am certain of it!