“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (ESV)

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (NIV)

I just accepted a new job. I also just moved to a new city. Oh, and did I mention I just got married? Oh, and that my wife is pregnant? If I’m honest, this is kind of a scary season for me.

Will I be good at my new job? Will I make friends at my new church? Am I going to be a good husband and father?

The questions don't stop. Underneath them all is uncertainty. There are a lot of things I can Google in a heartbeat and get answers for, but my future… that’s not one of them. Will everything work out?

Even in seasons of bliss, the fear of the future creeps in. The phrase “the calm before the storm” hits on this blissful age that we know will at some point end.

David knew this too. Hunted by a man he spent years serving, betrayed by friends, hated by his own son. One day he’s tending his sheep, then is anointed as the next king. His life was anything but certain. Yet he wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me." Not "maybe." Not "I hope so." He wrote, “Surely.” As in, certainly. As in, absolutely. Doubtless even.

That kind of certainty didn't come from David's circumstances. It came from the Lord. Certainty for all the days of his life, and forever. Every day in this life and the next, David knew it was going to be good. Forever never runs out. Whatever uncertainty you're carrying has an expiration date. But your home with God does not.

We don’t need to know exactly how our future pans out, we just need to know who holds our future in his hands. It is a cosmic impossibility for the Lord to not be good to his children. Is that enough certainty for you?

I’m going to try to be excellent in my work. I’m going to try to meet new people and get to know them. I’m going to do my best to love and serve my wife and child. But I am not certain I will do it perfectly, and I don’t need to be. I am certain that the Lord is my provider, protector, Father, and friend. That’s enough.

My trust is in the God who never lies. Who never short changes his children. Who gives the best gifts all the time, every time.

The God of shalom. The God of peace. The God who will surely take care of me in this life and the next.

Written by Rainer Erani