Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
- Isaiah 7:14
 
Who gives the sign? Who’s going to give us the sign we need to move forward into the uncertain future with confidence?
 
The sign isn’t something we give each other. Our attempts to bolster our collective courage mean something, but only because they are a part of a larger work that the Lord is doing. We can’t – in our own efforts – substitute for him in the midst of uncertainty.
 
The sign isn’t something we generate for ourselves. Positive self-talk has a place, but it can’t produce the courage we need in the face of uncertainty. There’s a fine line between confidence and delusion. And uncertain times blur the boundary.
 
The sign isn’t something society gives us. The sweet social cocoon becomes stifling in uncertain times. All the order in the world didn’t prevent the coming of chaos and, on its own, won’t be able to dispel it. 
 
The Lord himself is the one who gives us a sign. Christmas. Easter. The whole redemption narrative of the Bible that includes Christ our King. These come to us as signs that, as Julian of Norwich said: “All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.”
 
Take a few moments today to ask the Lord to re-center your confidence that all shall be well, focusing your hope on him.