In this crazy world of ours, we’re often told to take a chance – to throw caution to the wind and follow our instincts. It’s true that every day is a second chance for most of us. We find ourselves asking God for this on a regular basis. Thankfully He hears our prayers and gives us those opportunities to try again, even though there is nothing we can do to win our place of honor in heaven. That’s already been done for us.

Still, we’re faced with taking risks on a daily basis – especially in times of uncertainty. This year could be considered one of the most challenging times in our history. We’ve faced catastrophe on top of catastrophe. We’ve experienced a time in the desert, comparable to those written about in God’s Word. Sometimes it feels like every day brings a new problem to the mix. What are we to do?

I think about those who are suffering with a disease that could take their life – about those who have lost their livelihood – those with uncertain futures – the broken hearted, the anxious and depressed. This time has been like a jail sentence. The Apostle Paul faced his time in prison converting others to Christianity and dictating his final Acts of the Apostles to Luke, who would later write them down for us to read.

Does it have to take a walk in the desert to overcome difficulties? I think of it this way. We need time to evaluate our journey. During times of trouble, we need our space, our isolation, our chance to converse with God. We also must be willing to listen to His voice, when He tells us to rely on Him and not ourselves. We do that by reading the Bible.

A small business could give up during a time like this, or it could take a chance and even risk everything to further the growth of the company. A church could easily fall by the wayside and never recover, because of the lack of fellowship and community. However the growth can be established in new ways with the use of technology and other means. A nation can survive through a pandemic, if they place their trust in the true God. This doesn’t mean we blindly walk into dangerous and difficult situations. It does mean that we’re turning our challenges into greater opportunities if we remain quiet and trust God to see us through.

What gives us reason to take a chance? We know, by faith, that God never changes. He is consistent. He loves us. He is active in our lives. We can place our trust in Him alone.

Today doesn’t have to be a loss for any of us. We have opportunities ahead that are boundless. All we need to do is trust in the Lord.