In God We Trust

Our nation's entered a new era, one marked by terrorism, fear, and an uncertain future. But as Christians, we have every reason to face the future with hope, not fear. So TCW asked several prominent Christian leaders how believers can be confident in the midst of uncertainty. May their words help you face the new year—and whatever it may hold—with greater faith and hope.

—The Editors

Max Lucado

Jesus, the Ultimate Example

How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to his Father with his fears. Do the same with yours. Don't avoid the hardest times of life. Enter them. Just don't enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground's permitted. Tears are allowed. Do what Jesus did; open your heart and pray to God. Be specific. Jesus was. God has plenty of time for details. He also has plenty of compassion. And he knows what you need.

Max Lucado, best-selling author. Adapted from his most recent book, Traveling Light (W Publishing)

Fern Nichols

Powerful Comfort

Memorizing Scripture's a wonderful way to dispel fear. Try Psalm 118:6-7: "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper." Or Psalm 4:8: "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." If you can't sleep or are having nightmares, these great promises will comfort you. God's Word is a powerful weapon against fear. We can boldly proclaim, "[I] will have no fear of bad news; [my] heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. [My] heart is secure, [I] will have no fear" (Psalm 112:7-8).

Fern Nichols, founder and president of Moms in Touch International

Shirley Dobson

Control in the Chaos

The future will always be uncertain. While we may enjoy the illusion of safety, even in those moments, we're only a heartbeat away from eternity. That's why we must place our trust in God, knowing "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

God hasn't lost control of our circumstances. He's our shield and defender—even when chaos rages around us. Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Now, more than ever, we should pray for and encourage each other daily. The writer of reminds us, "let us not give up meeting together" (10:25). We need to be nurtured spiritually through our churches and other fellowship groups.

We can find comfort in Scripture's promise that our heavenly Father cares about every detail of our life. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." How can we not be confident about the future when we have this wonderful assurance?

Shirley Dobson, chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force

Anne Graham Lotz

Eternal Security

When my three children were young, I did everything I could to ensure their safety. But then they grew up, went to college and to other homes and cities where I couldn't supervise them. Yet because my children have accepted Christ, I know that regardless of what happens to them in this life, they're eternally secure. That's because God promises that when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we will not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16).

Once you've ensured your eternal safety, ask yourself what you've done to help ensure others'. It's a privilege and responsibility to tell others about God, about their own sin, about their need to claim Jesus Christ as their Savior so their sins will be forgiven, about heaven and how to get there. So pray, trusting God for the safety he'll one day provide you, and ask him to work on behalf of those who don't know him yet.

Anne Graham Lotz, founder and president of AnGeL Ministries, daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, and author of Heaven: My Father's House (W Publishing)

Thelma Wells

Keep the Faith

In this changing world, the security we took for granted has been shattered. Now's the time to turn to God and ask him for guidance as you:

—Keep believing. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

—Teach your children right from wrong. Tell your kids evil does exist, but that it won't go unpunished.

—Show empathy. It's our duty to heal those who hurt, comfort those who are lost, restore those who've gone astray, love those who are embittered. As you show your faith through love, people will find hope.

—Take comfort in God's Word. Study it now more than ever. Psalm 119:105 reminds us that the Bible is "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

—Look for God in everything. See God's hand in the spiritual hunger we see ignited in our nation.

—Let your light shine. Without becoming obnoxious or pious, be a light to nonbelievers. Speak tenderly about God's mercy, faithfulness, and plan for our lives.

—Give thanks. God's promises stand firm even in the face of pain: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). God always keeps his promises!

Thelma Wells, author, Women of Faith speaker, and president of A Woman of God Ministries

Carol Kent

Confidence-Builders

When your confidence is shaken, the following steps can help you gain new perspective:

—Acknowledge your emotions. Do you feel powerless or angry because something or someone has robbed you of the ability to control your life? These feelings are normal, and God isn't threatened by them. He welcomes your honesty.

—Realize God brings good out of every trial, even if you don't see it right away. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. …" (Romans 8:28).

—Internalize these truths: God is for me. He's on my side. He loves me. If you lack confidence, pick up his Word and read encouragement: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

—Tell the Enemy to get lost! Satan has no power over Christians, and you can—with authority—tell him to leave you alone (Luke 10:19).

Carol Kent, president of Speak Up Speaker Services and author of numerous books, including Becoming a Woman of Influence (NavPress)

Mike Nappa

A Day at a Time

Throw yourself into the nail-scarred hands that hold your true, eternal hope. Admit you don't know what the future holds, yet still be willing to trust God who holds the future (Jeremiah 29:11-12). And determine to let his love remove your temptation to fear tomorrow. After all, tomorrow has enough worries of its own. Your responsibility? To be faithful in serving Christ today, and to let him worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34). May God give each one of us grace to do just that.

Mike Nappa, author of The Courage to Be Christian (Howard Publishing) and Who Moved My Church? (RiverOak Publishing)

Lisa Beamer:

"God Is Good—Always"

September 11, 2001, started out as a normal Tuesday for the Beamer family. Todd, 32, sprinted to the shower at 5:45 A.M. while Lisa stayed in bed. Thirty minutes later, Todd dashed out the door to catch United Flight 93 for a business trip to San Francisco.

When Lisa, 32, pregnant with their third child, got up, she started some laundry, dressed their boys, David, age 4, and Drew, now 2, and fed them breakfast. Then at 9:15, her friend Elaine called to tell her about the World Trade Center attacks. Lisa turned on the tv to see the devastation, than discovered two other planes had crashed—one into the Pentagon, and one in a field in Pennsylvania. Flight 93 went down 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh—and Todd was on it. His in-flight conversation with a GTE Airfone operator documented that he and other passengers, knowing they'd be killed, had decided to try to thwart the hi-jackers. After reciting The Lord's Prayer with the operator, Todd turned to the other passengers on the plane and said "Let's roll"—a phrase he'd used frequently at home to motivate his boys.

Her life suddenly altered, Lisa says, "This is not what I wanted for myself or my children. God knew that. But I'm beyond questioning why God allows some things to happen. I can honestly say my faith wasn't shaken—it grew stronger. I don't understand why this evil happened, but I know God can make something good come out of it."

Lisa faces a challenging new year as a single mom with two toddlers and a baby due this January. She says, "The other night, I was overwhelmed as I helped the kids put on their pajamas. I thought, How am I going to do this every night? Then I realized: I just have to do it tonight. God will give me the resources I need, as I need them. Before, I'd think, Todd will be home in two hours; I can make it. Now I pray, 'God, do what you need to do to help David obey right now because I really need help.'

"Fear comes from feeling I'm out of control. But, the reality is, I never know what will happen to my children or me on any given day. I just didn't realize that. Now I do. And since God is who he says he is, I can trust him. I'm less concerned about earthly things now; I focus more on eternity."

Lisa sees faith over fear as a calling for all Christians: "Todd isn't a hero beyond epic proportion, and I'm not a woman of super faith. We're just regular people who do regular things. This situation simply shows what God can do through ordinary people."

—reporting by Patricia Souder

Read more articles that highlight writing by Christian women at ChristianityToday.com/Women