“Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: as fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” Ecclesiastes 9:12

Emotions are part of being human and they help us to face situations whether good or bad but sometimes it can be difficult to manage them. These emotions can be happiness, sadness, anger, fear, peace, among others but one of the most difficult emotions to manage is uncertainty. This is because uncertainty is associated with other emotions like fear and anxiety and it is constantly lingering, as it is a fear of the future.

During this time of pandemic, with no answers to our questions about how and when this crisis will end, uncertainty is increasing. For many, their uncertainty surrounds questions about their health and whether they will become infected with the virus.

In discussing this subject, it must be said that all of us as human beings have experienced uncertainty at some point in our lives. We ask ourselves “Will I be able to do it?” “Will I pass the exam?” “Can I do this job?” “What does my future hold?” Uncertainty, therefore, arises as hope decreases and, as the passage quoted above indicates, it comes upon us suddenly and we find ourselves caught in fear and anxiety.

This pandemic has changed everything and we do not know when it will end. It has caused uncertainty to grow daily, especially because when we thought it was coming to an end, we suddenly realised that a new stage was beginning.

How do we cope with such uncertainty in a healthy way? Here are 4 tips for dealing with uncertainty and the fear and insecurity it produces:

  1. Stand firm in your faith. Choose one or several Bible verses that may have had an impact on your life, make them your own, study them and pray, asking the Lord to give you the security that you need. Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
  2. Follow the safety regulations. Continue to follow the health and safety regulations set out by the government of your country. Practise them and as you do, you will protect yourself and this will give you a sense of security.
  3. Don’t expect immediate changes. Just take one day at a time, this will run its course. Doing this will help to reduce the anxiety that uncertainty brings. Although it may be a bother, this will take time.
  4. Recognize that uncertainty is a normal reaction. This is like when you were a child and could not control things. Today, we cannot control the pandemic but we can control the way we face it. Let us have faith in God that He can do all things, that He will not leave us, that He is with us and will walk with us every day.

Response Team, Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region