Faith offers certainty in these troubling times of uncertainty says Sheffield minister

“How many vicars does it take to change a light bulb?”

“Change?”

We can be light-hearted about it, but if we are honest, not many of us like change.

It is unsettling.

On the news this week, there have been stories of people for whom change is a real threat to their health and wellbeing.

At the moment, we are going through a lot of change and in my conversations with people, the uncertainty that brings in our lives is causing anxiety.

What compounds all of this is that change is happening fast and it seems that one decision is made and then there is a U-turn or another change is made.

For example; do we wear a mask or not?

Are we coming out of lockdown, or are we going back into lockdown?

Can I go on holiday abroad or will the country suddenly be taken off the safe list and leave me to face quarantine?

Is it safe to sing or not?

It feels like we are in a maze trying to find the exit and just as we think we know the route,

all the walls change around and we need to find a new route.

All this uncertainty affects our wellbeing.

We need certainty, an anchor that is firm and steadfast.

At times like these, I depend upon my faith in God to help me.

The Bible teaches us that God does not change.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God keeps his promises.

“God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6vs17 & 19.

In all this change, we can find certainty in the unchanging nature of God.

We can talk to God about how we feel.

He is our constancy in an uncertain world.

The Reverend Jonathan Haigh is a minister at Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield city centre, and Greenhill Methodist Church – see greenhillmethodistchurch.com