You’ve probably heard the cliché, “The only constant is change.” These days, we can add another line to it: “The only certain thing is uncertainty.”

Everything, it would seem, is in constant upheaval in these times. From the economy, jobs, and health crises to weather and earthquakes, everything is shaking under our feet.

Some days, it feels like we’re sitting helplessly in an aircraft that’s flying through turbulence. We’re buckled down in our seats, but there’s not a lot we can do as we’re being thrown about. We’re not sure how the pilot is coping and we can’t step off; all we can do is sit tight, grip the armrests and hope … for stability.

Ah! To be stable! That coveted quality we need so much in every sphere of our lives. If only we had political, economic, and social stability, so that we could go about our usual routines. If only we knew what would happen the next day—or at least, be sure that the next day would not bring some unexpected crisis—so that we could carry out our predetermined plans.

But, as we all know, life never grants us this privilege. The whole Covid-19 saga is a grim reminder that life is full of twists and turns. That no matter how much we prepare for the unexpected, something may happen that is beyond even our worst expectation.

If that’s the case, it’s small wonder that the Bible contains many calls to “stand firm”. For example:

Paul’s instructions were probably no less puzzling to his original readers. Many of them were struggling to hold on to their faith in the face of persecution, opposition, or secular or religious influences. The Thessalonian believers, for example, were buffeted by the strong winds of false teaching.

Like many believers of that time, they lived in fear of what could happen the next day. So how could they—and we today—stand firm in the face of uncertainty?

In 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Paul had declared a simple but powerful truth: “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.” This unassailable truth of God’s loving election and call is what gives us strength to remain steadfast.

The doctrine of God’s election is much debated today. But we can see how it strengthened, encouraged, and empowered those He chose to stand firm and to fulfil His will for them.

That God “elects” people is seen in His call to Abraham, His choice of Jacob over Esau, and His selection of Israel out of all nations to be His treasured possession. In the same way, we are also chosen. Paul says that “[God] chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world … In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship” (Ephesians 1:4–5). That’s why Christians are also called “God’s elect” or “God’s chosen” (Romans 8:33).

Being chosen gives us certainty because it means that God will never let us go nor abandon us. No matter what happens around us or to us, we will always be His children, and therefore, we will be in His protective and comforting arms.

We will never have to wonder: “Who cares if I’m suffering? Who cares if something untoward happens to us?” Because the answer to these questions is: God cares.

There is another aspect of our election that is awesomely assuring and empowering. And it is this: God did not choose us because we were worthy. Rather, He chose us before we “were born or had done anything good or bad, plainly showing that God’s act of choice has nothing to do with achievements, good or bad, but is entirely a matter of his will” (Romans 9:11–12, Phillips).

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 tells us what lies behind God’s choice: God “set his affection on you and [chose] you because … the Lord loved you”.). So does 2 Timothy 1:9: “God saved us and called us … not because we deserved it, but … to show us his grace” (NLT).

Our election was not based on anything we had done or not done. Rather, it was based on God’s grace and love—which, unlike the world, are unchanging.

Paul understood what it was like to live in uncertain times. Ironically, he chose to. He could have had a comfortable, settled life as an educated Pharisee, with all the trappings and privileges accorded to his class. But he chose to give it all up to fulfil the purpose that God called him to: to preach the gospel of Christ. That gave him far more certainty and stability than any worldly status could.

Paul reminds us that God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of us: “God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14).

The New Century Version of the Bible puts it this way: “You are saved by the Spirit that makes you holy and by your faith in the truth. God used the Good News that we preached to call you to be saved.”

As His chosen people, we are called to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit and to be holy. We are also called to be loved and to love. As Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Extracted and adapted from Journey Through 1 & 2 Thessalonians by Sim Kay Tee © Discovery House Publishing Singapore.