God Knows
Mormon 1:7
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.
I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come.” What truth and wisdom there is in that principle. For many of us, the future can feel scary and uncertain. With everything we hear in the news and on social media, it is easy to live with constant worry about what could happen. Often, we catastrophize situations before they even happen.
The fear of the unknown refers to anxiety or discomfort triggered by situations where outcomes are uncertain or unpredictable, often causing distress and avoidance behaviors (Medical News Today). Clinically, this is sometimes referred to as intolerance of uncertainty, which describes a tendency to react negatively—emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally—to uncertain events (Science Insights). Another term used is agnostophobia, highlighting the innate human response to unfamiliar or unpredictable circumstances (Institute for Research on Evolutionary Responses).
Seeking help can reduce the negative effects relating to the fear of the unknown. Some treatment options include CBT and counseling. Additionally, joining support groups or seeking comfort from family and friends can help someone cope with the fear of the unknown. (Source: Medical News Today)
Mormon teaches us another powerful truth: there is Someone who knows all things which are to come—Jesus Christ. Because He knows our future, our past, and who we truly are, He can guide us perfectly if we are willing to trust Him. I have seen the Lord’s hand in my life many times. Often, I do not recognize it while I am in the middle of the storm, but when the winds calm and the flooding stops, I can look back and see that God was carrying me, sustaining me, and sheltering me all along. As I reflect on my life, I realize that Christ already knew what was ahead of me, and He was preparing me for it long before I understood why.
Twelve years ago, Carl completely lost hearing in his right ear because of a condition called sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Yesterday, I unexpectedly had to face a similar situation myself. Two days ago, my left ear began to feel clogged, as if water were trapped inside it, and I noticed reduced hearing. At first, I brushed it off, but when I woke up the next morning and the symptoms were still there, Carl became concerned because of what he had experienced years earlier.
I went to urgent care, but the nurse did not find anything visibly wrong and simply referred me to an ENT specialist. Carl strongly felt we should pursue it further because he recognized the warning signs. We sat in the car calling ENT offices until we finally reached someone who understood the urgency of the situation and scheduled an appointment for me within thirty minutes.
The hearing test showed that the anatomy of my ear was healthy, but that I did indeed have mild hearing loss in my left ear. I was prescribed oral steroids to take for two weeks. The ENT repeatedly told us it was an excellent decision to seek treatment immediately because many patients wait too long, and after about 72 hours, there is often very little that can be done.
As I reflected on everything that happened, I felt incredibly grateful for how events unfolded. We persisted, advocated for care, and were guided to the right help at the right time. Heavenly Father knew what was going to happen before I did, and He prepared a way for things to work out as they needed to.
In life, we can plan, dream, and set goals, but ultimately, reliance on our Heavenly Father—trusting Him and exercising faith in Him—is what brings lasting joy, meaning, and peace. He is our Father in Heaven. He loves us, cares for us, and wants what is best for us. Even when life feels uncertain, we can trust that there is Someone who sees the future perfectly. God can use people, experiences, challenges, and even difficult moments for our good according to His will. Because of that, we do not need to fear the unknown as much when we place our trust in Him.