There is a story where the man wails, “Oh God, help me find my wallet and I’ll give half the money in it to the church.” Immediately his wallet appeared before him. And just as quickly he said, “Oh, never mind, God, I’ve just found it myself.”

This is the way most of us go through life.

If we are an obedient army of the Lamb of God, if we are a people determined to live out the demands of the gospel in a secular world, we must pay attention and listen for His voice every day. And then respond in kind.

The early Pilgrims huddled together against their first winter in America facing an uncertain future. Those brave families taught us about uncertainty, the importance of enduring and how to keep a rich, relentless faith in troubled times.

Whether it is the uncertainty of ever finding a lost wallet or the uncertainty of facing a serious future, all of us have fears of some sort. Regardless of our particular fear, all fear is a result of a lack of trust and dependence on God. When we are focused on God and his love for us, we are not afraid no matter what circumstances we face.

From Deuteronomy 31:8, the Israelites were about to enter the land God had promised them. This land was full of enemy armies, and Moses was reminding the people to trust God to defeat all their enemies.

If we are afraid, it is an indication that we are not trusting God to defeat our “enemies” which can include obstacles of any kind. The Bible encourages us to trust God completely, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

When we have faith, or confidence in God’s ability to care for us regardless of the circumstances, we will not be afraid.

When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they became aware of their powerlessness. Christians have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and our relationship has been fully restored.

Like the Pilgrims, we do not know the future of our circumstances in this world. Let us choose to live without fear of what might come. Our Lord already knows what is in store for each of us as He has told us in His Word to keep in faith to Him.

Thanksgiving is a holiday given to Americans because of the faith in God by our forebears. Let us continue the lineage into the coming Advent Season.