Fear of the Future

Q: What does the Bible say about premonitions?

A: Thanks for your question. The short answer comes from Bible verses like Isaiah 46:9-10. "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." In other words, only God knows the future. A premonition is a forewarning, a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future event. Most often these anxious feelings come from us worrying about the future. Sometimes we call them "omens" because we take a similar circumstance that reminds us of a past bad event and assume the same outcome will repeat itself. Honestly, it is just another trick of Satan to get our focus off of Jesus and on to the future. How many people are consumed with things like the 2012 Mayan Prophecy? There have been cable documentaries about it and even a feature length Hollywood film about it. All of it is designed to keep people in fear and focused on future events they cannot control, much less be certain about there truthfulness.

Besides premonitions and omens, have you ever heard people use these words and feelings? Hunch, feeling in my bones, handwriting on the wall, suspicion and winds of change. All of these are used to describe a certain sense a person has about a future event. And, often times, there is just enough anecdotal evidence to make them believe in what they are feeling as if it is fact. It is why we have this fascination with psychics, fortunetellers and supposed clairvoyants who claim to be able to predict the future and or talk to dead people. How many people have been separated from their time and money at $4.99 a minute talking to a psychic on the telephone? How many others have dedicated their lives to trying to study the "prophecies" of people like Nostradamus and Edgar Cayce? It is all driven by fear and worry over the future. And what did Jesus say about the future? "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34)." Why worry about the future when we aren't promised to even see it? If you are in Christ you have a God that is already in your tomorrow. A God who has promised that you will spend eternity with Him.

All premonitions, in my humble opinion, are the byproduct of a person's fear of the future and where they will spend it. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)." This is not something that comes from the Lord. Most of us spend our times focusing on one of two things, if not both. One, we are worried about yesterday, the past. Or two, we are worried about tomorrow, the future. We can do very little to change them. We can't go backwards and we aren't promised another day. All we can do is rest in today, enjoy what we have been given in Christ and look for an opportunity to be used by the Lord to share His love with others. And we can't share His love if we aren't experiencing it. Remember, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18)." Premonitions, by definition, predict all sorts of tragedy and destruction. It is natural to be afraid of that. But, if we are resting in God's love for us and promise that He is in control of the future there is nothing to fear. There is no punishment for those in Christ Jesus.

Like you, I wish I knew the future. And also, like you, I have fearful thoughts about the future on occasion. But, I have to realize that things like premonitions are just the fruit of not resting in the Lord. Within the definition of premonition is the word anxiety. The Bible says to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)." It goes on to say, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6)." Fear and anxiety are normal, but they are not of the Lord. When they come into our lives we should know that God can use them as an opportunity to teach us about trusting and depending on Him. The future is God's territory and if you look at it fearfully, you should see it as an opportunity to ask God what you're not trusting Him with in your life? The future is not bigger than our God and we should not be afraid of it. If we do see another day we should look at it as an opportunity to share God's love with others that has cast out our fear. Be blessed.