Finding Hope in Uncertainty
Trusting God in an Anxious World
Mark 13:1-8
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.
I want to take us back in history this morning and ask if you remember some infamous events. I was young at the time, so I wonder if you all remember 1988. There was a prediction called 88 Reasons Why Christ Will Return in 1988. Does anyone remember that? I was six years old, so I don’t really remember it, only vaguely. This prediction, as I understand, was led by a former NASA engineer named Edgar Whisenant. He published a booklet predicting that during Rosh Hashanah in 1988, Christ would return. Spoiler alert—it didn’t happen. He later revised his predictions for 1989, 1993, and 1994, all of which were incorrect.
There have been other attempts throughout history to predict the end of the world. Does anyone remember the Heaven’s Gate cult? This was in 1997 and was led by Marshall Applewhite. They believed a spaceship trailing the Comet Hale-Bopp would lead them to salvation. Tragically, they committed mass suicide one evening, believing they would ascend to the spaceship. The world didn’t end, but who knows—they may have believed they were taken to salvation.
A less religious example was the Y2K phenomenon. Do you remember that? My big memory of Y2K was filling up the bathtub with water just in case everything went wrong. As we move closer to recent times, perhaps you recall the concern surrounding the Mayan calendar in 2012. There was even a movie, 2012, with John Cusack. The idea was that the Mayan calendar ended in 2012, which some interpreted as the end of the world. Scholars clarified that it simply marked the end of a cycle, but the story took on a life of its own.
Closer to home, does anyone remember the Blood Moon Prophecies in 2014 and 2015? Based on a series of lunar eclipses, these prophecies were popularized by some Christian ministers, including John Hagee, who linked the blood moons to biblical prophecy, suggesting an impending apocalypse. Again, nothing happened. Finally, there was the prediction by David Mead in 2017. He claimed that Planet X, also known as Nibiru, would collide with Earth on September 23, 2017, causing catastrophic events. He based this prediction on his interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Again, it didn’t happen.
For years, people have assumed that the end is near during times of chaos or disruption. Even today, as we face challenges like climate change, global conflict, and political division, life can feel overwhelming. Many assume we are witnessing the end—whether it’s the end of a healthy planet, the end of safety and stability, or even the end of democracy. For many people, the recent election results felt like an end-of-the-world scenario. Maybe it’s you, a friend, or a neighbor. Many are feeling disappointed, disillusioned, or even disgusted.
To be clear, this is not a partisan statement. I wrote this message before November 5, expecting different results. My point is that for many people, the stakes of the election felt exceptionally high, and the outcome brought a deep sense of anxiety about the future. This anxiety, I think, is very similar to what Jesus’ disciples faced long ago. In Mark 13, we read a section of Scripture known as apocalyptic literature. While we commonly think of “apocalypse” as disaster, the word actually means “unveiling” or revealing a deeper truth.
Apocalyptic texts in the first century often used fantastical, otherworldly imagery to convey these truths. Jesus’ words in Mark 13 reflect this style and are rooted in the belief that God controls history and will save the world at a time of God’s choosing. This perspective is distinct from our modern views, where we tend to doubt the supernatural and view God as merely a force for good dependent on human effort. But I want to emphasize that God is more than our collective will, more than our best efforts, and more than an elected leader.
Throughout Scripture, we see testimonies of people placing their faith in a God who acts, delivers, and remains faithful to His promises, even in times of uncertainty and fear. This morning, we will read some of those passages together.
Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 91:
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
1 Samuel 2:1-10:
Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”
Hebrews 10:12-16:
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,”
In times of uncertainty and fear, let us place our trust in God, not in humans. When things feel out of control, we can focus on what we can control and ground ourselves in familiar practices. In times of anxiety, we can pray, we can read Scripture, and we can love one another. These actions ground us, remind us of God's presence, and help us cultivate peace even amidst chaos.
Prayer matters. If you were here for my last sermon in October, you might remember me speaking about the importance and efficacy of prayer. Not only do I believe that prayer matters, but I’m also reminded of the words from the Lord’s Prayer, where we pray together, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Prayer connects us with God and aligns us with His will.
Reading Scripture is another essential practice. It reminds us of God’s action in the past, His promises for the future, and His presence with us now. Scripture grounds and centers us, giving us peace in truth. Reading Scripture as a ritual— in a positive sense—brings comfort in times of uncertainty and chaos.
Finally, we can love one another. This, my friends, might be the most challenging of all, especially in our politically polarized world. Yet, as Jesus commanded, we must love even those we perceive as enemies. This past election season was all about choices, yet after the results, it may feel like our choices are over, leaving us at the mercy of whoever won. But I don’t believe that to be true.
We can choose the path of worry and obsession, doom-scrolling social media, fixating on negative headlines, and letting anxiety take over. Or, we can choose the path of faith and trust, grounding ourselves in God’s promises, focusing on what we can control, and finding peace in His presence. Perhaps you’ve heard of Julian of Norwich, an ancient church mother. She is famous for saying, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Julian did not write these words for a throw pillow or social media post. She wrote them after facing very real pain, suffering, and sin in her own life. Despite her challenges, she had the faith to declare, “All shall be well.”
Julian embodied Christian hope, which is based on God's past action and trust in His future promises. As Henri Nouwen wrote, “Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism expects that things—like the weather, human relationships, the economy, or the political situation—will get better. Hope, on the other hand, is the trust that God will fulfill His promises in a way that leads to true freedom.” Optimism focuses on specific changes, while hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in God’s hands.
Friends, living with hope is hard. Cynicism and despair are easier. As Jesse Zink writes, “Cynicism and despair allow us to seem confident and look popular in an apparently clear-eyed take on how awful the world really is.” But despair denies that God is acting and will continue to act as He has in the past. This is not about ignoring injustice in our world or sitting back and pretending that God will magically fix everything. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3, we are God’s field, God’s foundation, and God’s co-workers. We have a role to play in His redemptive work.
What I am encouraging us to do this morning is to choose the path of faithful trust. This means praying and seeking God’s direction on when, where, and how we should act. It means reading Scripture when we feel alone or discouraged. It means showing loving kindness to everyone—even those who voted differently from us. We can either despair, assuming we’ve failed and the future is doomed, or we can trust that God is still at work in our world.
My prayer for us, and for Christians throughout our nation, is that we would trust in the One who holds all things together. Let us believe that God is still working through us to bring light, hope, and goodness where it’s needed most. Let us pray.
Holy God, in these times of uncertainty and anxiety, the path of despair and cynicism is so easy. It is so easy to become angry and disillusioned. Help us to live with hope, to trust in Your promises, to seek You in prayer, to ground ourselves in Scripture, and to love one another. Remind us that You are still at work in our world and will guide us into all truth to love and serve in Your will and promises. We ask this in Your name. Amen.