Times of uncertainty are certainly not new, but when they come, we are called upon to act in such a way that provides help and hope for those depending on us. To do that, however, we have to get our inside world put right.

For me, what has helped me to get my inside world right is the following verse and the promise found within:

Psalm 37:7a – Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. (MSG)

These words are an anchor in the storm, a beacon in the fog, a rock amidst shifting sand, a place to lay down our weary lives.

We quiet down before God not just as an escape from our duty but as a place to go in order to fulfill our duty. Not unlike most of us, I have had to deal with cancelled events, lost opportunities, financial loss, health concerns, and wondering about what I should focus on now.

As I have walked a little more and quieted down before God in prayerfulness a little more intentionally, I have been able to see enough to take the next steps.

We are not alone.

Nehemiah saw the devastation of Jerusalem and responded by riding around the city at night in quietness before God, prayerful and with curious wonder.

Daniel, under pressure to conform to the culture, refused to stop his practice of being quiet before God with prayerful reflection.

Jesus, during His most intense time that led up to the cross, went into the garden where He quieted Himself down before God and was prayerful before His Father.

Paul and Silas, after some serious persecution, found themselves in prison, yet quieted down and had a hymn sing and found God meeting them in a powerful way.

What happens when we quiet down before God and are prayerful before Him?

• We see who God is.
• We feel God's reassuring presence.
• We hear what God wants us to do next.
• We breathe a little easier because we know that the solution is not all up to us.
• We speak words of reassurance and wisdom instead of panic.
• We walk forward knowing that we're not alone but have the Spirit walking with us.

What about you?

You may be afraid of getting sick and dealing with heightened levels of stress. You may be called upon to offer counsel and a listening ear to vulnerable people who are worried about their own risk of getting sick. You may be facing financial pressure from unemployment.

Regardless of your exact situation, make extra time to let these words sink deep into your soul and experience. Go for a walk right now. Memorize Psalm 37:7. Write the words in your journal or on a sticky note on your computer, on your mirror, or on your wall.

Prayer: Lord, may we experience Your reassuring presence, peace, and guidance for today and the days ahead. Amen.

When in your life have you experienced unfair treatment that left you bruised and beaten? When have you been tempted to retaliate for circumstances and events that left you in pain and filled with grief?

In suffering, we can respond in two ways. One response is to retaliate and grow bitter in disgust at what God has allowed to happen. The other response is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and not retaliate, but leave our case in the hands of God to sort out.

For the past two and a half years, I've been learning to follow in the footsteps of Jesus myself. Our motorcycle riding came to a sudden end one day in the spring of 2011 when a car ran a stop sign and left my wife and me bruised and beaten under the car on the side of the road. I did nothing wrong but ended up with a life-altering situation.

The journey of recovery continues as I brace for surgery number nine later this month. But as I do, I am choosing to leave my case in the hands of God. I'm learning to surrender this ordeal to God. And as I do, I have been experiencing peace, contentment, and courage for the fight.

What about you? What event in your life has been unfair? A job loss? An unexpected death? An illness? An accident? A reversal in finances?

I invite you to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and leave your case in the hands of God.

I leave you with a list of some of the things I'm surrendering to God. I encourage you to write out your own list of the parts of your life that you need to leave in the hands of God.

• I surrender what I've lost and leave behind.
• I surrender the pain and suffering ahead (e.g. the surgery and therapy).
• I surrender the need for an end date to my recovery.
• I surrender my talents, skills, and abilities for God to use as He sees fit in the meantime.
• I surrender my need to know what the future holds.

Surrendering is not waving the white flag and giving control over to a tyrannical enemy army. Surrendering is letting the all-knowing, all-powerful God work out the details of our case according to His plan and design!

A prayer of surrender: Father, thank You for handling Jesus' case as only You could. Jesus, thank You for showing us how to deal with unfair treatment and unimaginable suffering. Father, give me the strength today to leave my case in Your hands and let You lead my life in the days ahead. I know that I can trust You, no matter what. Amen.

Waiting can be exhausting! I've been doing what feels like an endless amount of waiting. Maybe you have as well. My waiting has been due to a time of extended recovery as a result of a near-fatal motorcycle accident two and half years ago. I've had eight surgeries, with number nine coming up this month. I'm still waiting to find out what my new normal will be and get to the end of this repair-recovery cycle.

The dictionary defines waiting as "remaining inactive in one place while expecting something". I see Psalm 130 teaching a much more active expectancy. Putting our hope in God's Word is a dynamic perspective that we embrace, not a passive existence we endure.

While waiting expectantly for the Lord to work things out, try on some of these perspectives. The night may seem long, but God does not leave us to journey alone.

While waiting:

• Grow in godly character — gain trust, patience, joy, perseverance.
• Focus on what you can do, not on what you wish you could be doing.
• Manage stress and anxiety by prayer and positive self-talk.
• Value the present season instead of looking longingly at the past or future.
• Be fully present with the people and opportunities in front of you today.

Here is your homework:

• Identify what you are waiting for God to do in your life. Be clear.
• What is your current perspective on your situation? Be real.
• What's a fresh perspective that you could adopt as you put your hope in God's Word? Be rooted.
• What character quality does God want to work on in you? Be growing.
• Who can you help and share your life with while waiting? Be giving.
• What are ten things that you're thankful for right now? Be grateful.

Waiting is hard work, but if we grow while waiting expectantly, we might be surprised how much better we will be and feel in the morning!

Prayer: Father, today, we wait for You. We wait for You to meet us today with Your peace and contentment. Teach us what You want us to hear and learn while waiting. We choose to accept Your perfect timing and ability to work everything together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We choose by faith to watch for You and to keep watching. Amen.

Do you ever feel like you have no idea where you are going? You plan, prioritize, and schedule your activities, but then still wonder, Where am I really going with all of this?

Now, you may be saying, "This is no help at all! I read these devotionals to get help and grow my confidence — not to have someone tell me to doubt myself!" If that's what you are thinking, don't stop reading just yet.

Believe it or not, having no idea where you are going may be the very quality needed to open up a pathway for moving forward. Now take the next couple of minutes and read through Thomas Merton's prayer (maybe a couple of times). As you read and reflect, answer this question:

"What character qualities expressed in this prayer would I like to develop more deeply?"

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Character Qualities Worth Developing

1. Not knowing opens doors to exploring new possibilities.

2. Not knowing puts us on our knees in dependence on God.

3. Over-confidence of what should happen may block deep change.

4. To please God as our top priority sets us up to perform for an audience of One.

5. It is often darkest before a breakthrough.

6. If we walk with Jesus and fully depend on Him, He promises never to leave us to walk alone.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for always knowing what we need to do and who we need to be. Shine Your guiding light on our paths, and show us the way to live and how to be today and in the days ahead. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.