The Frustration of the Unknown - Martin Wiles

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

After numerous doctor visits which brought no answers, my wife and I were frustrated.

The unknown started after a recent move. My wife lifted an item and felt a stabbing pain. Thinking she had pulled the mesh from a recent hernia surgery, we visited the general surgeon. After testing, he determined it was only scar tissue.

Then unexplained weight gain resulted in a trip to the emergency room and then to the cardiologist. Pills to reduce her fluid didn’t work. More tests followed. One revealed an enlarged spleen and liver.

We re-visited the general surgeon who sent her to a kidney specialist. The cardiologist, in the meantime, sent her to a digestive disease doctor.

Weeks and months have passed between the tests and doctor visits. As of this writing, we still don’t know the answers to her unexplained fluid retention. Her frustration—and mine, builds as we await answers while trying not to imagine the worse.

Paul could have also been frustrated by the unknown. Would he survive the persecutions or the trip to stand trial before the Roman emperor? Would his friends betray him? Instead, he did what he advised others to do.

Praying about the unknown is crucial. Every night, I pray for my wife to have strength to face what might be ahead and for God to give the doctors wisdom to find out the reason for her dilemma.

Trusting is important in times of the unknown. God has never let me down and promises not to, regardless of life’s challenges. I can trust Him to work things for my good—even things that appear bad. He has my best interests at heart.

Additionally, I choose to believe God is in control. Doing so helps control my anxiety and frustration level. If He isn’t, I have an even larger problem than the things causing my frustration.

In my wife’s case, I believe God can guide the doctors to discover the reason for her health concerns and to give her the proper treatment. I also believe He can heal her apart from the doctor’s intervention if He so chooses.

Don’t let the frustration of the unknown lead you to doubt, anger, bitterness, or unbelief in a loving God. Rather, believe God loves you and has your situation under control.

Prayer: Father, we trust You to guide us safely into and through the unknowns of our lives. 

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