In the past, I sometimes wished, ever so briefly, that I had a crystal ball.

The fleeting desire was to relieve the anxiety that comes with not knowing how things will turn out.

I believe it’s fair to say that the majority of us grew up believing in fairy tales and happily ever after.

I remember in my late teens and early twenties being in my room engulfed in sadness and loneliness wishing for a knight in shining armor to rescue me.

But I was convinced that I was unlovable and would never find true love. Such drama. But what do you expect coming from a family of thespians on my mother’s side of the family? ; )

Fast forward forty-one years later. I was standing in my old bedroom having just completed a full renovation of my childhood home to put it on the market.   

Robert was standing in this once lonely room with me. It was rather surreal because my wish did come true. I call Robert my K.I.S.A. (aka, knight in shining armor.) : )

But Robert didn’t rescue me. He came along side me. I had to let go of a lot of co-dependent baggage in order to give and receive love. Robert had baggage he had to let go of too.

We just celebrated our eighteenth wedding anniversary. Our brother and sister-in-law took us out to lunch to a great spot called The Loading Dock. It felt like a mini vacation.

When I Wanted a Crystal Ball

In those moments I wanted a crystal ball were times like when Robert told me to quit my corporate job to write and create. He lost his job a year later. Eek!

We’ve not only survived but thrived since then. That was 13 years ago.

Or when my mother had open heart surgery to replace a valve at the age of 82. She not only survived but thrived as a result of the surgery and lived to be 96.

What Does the Bible Say About Looking into the Future?

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NIV)

The book of Job describes one man’s extreme suffering losing everything. I’m sure Job would have liked a crystal ball to see into the future how God would double his fortune, live to be 140 years old, and see his children, his children’s children, and four generations!

We don’t have crystal balls because that’s not what faith is all about. Paul reminds us in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen… with a crystal ball. (King James Version amended by Jackie)

I truly don’t wish to have a crystal ball, especially since Robert was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about eight years ago. I do wish to live in the present and to not take a moment of this precious life for granted. That also means focusing on what to be grateful for. My wish is for you to do the same.

As the Ecclesiastes author says: When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

Also, remember that God is with us always in the good times and bad.

If you enjoyed this post, I offer a weekly email with a scripture to apply for the week. Along with that is a little eBook called the Four Steps to Flow. I love connecting with my readers and hope you will be one of them.