Newness and times of Uncertainty

Are we all now living in more ‘uncertainty’ than many of us have ever known before? Has not the arrival of Covid turned our lives on its head? What will Christmas look like this year? What does the ‘new normal’ even mean, and when will it even arrive? Yes, we are living in uncertain times, and being uncertain can be a shaky experience.

I used the word ‘newness’ in the title also, as I am newly arrived in the parish. Being an ordained member of the clergy and a ‘Deacon’, to be more precise, is very new to me, and I am new to the church at St. Albrights. So what a strange time to be both new and uncertain it seems; hence the choice of title!

But then I lend a thought to the book I pick up every day. A book I read with the comfort of the certainty that it has all happened already. In fact, I can read it over and over, and nothing is uncertain or immediately new in the narrative at all. This book of course is my Bible, and yes, of course I find freshness and newness in God’s living word every time I read it. But what I mean is this; the narrative, the story if you like, does not change. David still slays Goliath with one stone every time; Moses parts the Dead Sea without fail; and Peter stands up to tell thousands of people about Jesus’ love, and did so with boldness and confidence. It’s kind of an easy read. A bit like watching a favourite film, seen time and time again, with the security and warm feeling of knowing the ending even before pressing the play button.

But of course, the reality was somewhat different. David, in spite of the heroic account presented, had uncertainty; Moses, a nervous chap, was actually unable to speak for himself with any certainty; and Peter, well he took uncertainty to a whole new level!

My point is this: David actually only needed one stone to beat Goliath, but he had selected a handful. I can’t help but feeling he was a little less certain than it might seem on first reading. Moses had needed Aaron to speak for him as he was so nervous, and Peter, well, only days before his great speech at Pentecost, had totally denied even knowing Jesus when asked, fearful he too would be arrested.

The truth is, we all have a bit of David, Moses and Peter in us to differing degrees. And they did not have the benefit of reading the text knowing the ending. And here’s the rub. We don’t need to know the ending, any more than they did. The same God who knew that David only needed one stone, who provided Moses with Aaron to speak for him, and who beautifully forgave and restored Peter, is as the Bible says, ‘the same yesterday, today, forever’ (Hebrews 13:8).

One of my favourite true stories in the Bible is that of Ruth. Space does not allow detail, but here uncertainty and newness are massive. Widowed, without land, country, or income of her own, she discovers what I think we all need in these times of newness and uncertainty. In short, God wove into her circumstances, some or which may even have been owing to hers or others mistakes, his own purposes, love and blessing. I highly recommend reading the whole account if you are not familiar with it, or indeed read again, to remind yourself of God’s presence in ordinary lives like yours and mine.

So, in this time of uncertainty, and newness, we can keep hold of the sure and certain truth that Jesus Christ hasn’t changed. His love you us, for me, for you, remains fully intact, unshaken and immovable. Sure, we might need to do some responding to this wonderful truth, listen to what he teaches and adjust accordingly, but just like Ruth and Peter, even if we or others have messed up, God always allows a way back. And uncertainty, well I just love the God who loved the uncertain people I’ve mentioned, and still used them; and the God who has not abandoned you or me either. Something we can truly be certain of!

With every blessing,

Chris, Curate at St. Albrights, Stanway.