Overcoming the Fear of an Uncertain Future 1
Bible passage: Genesis 15:1-6
“1. After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." 2. But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3. And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." 4. Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5. He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-- if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6. Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. "
A news article I saw in Korea a few years ago really broke my heart. The contents are as follows: It is said that there are 510,000 young people across the country who live in seclusion because they are afraid of the world. Seclusive young people who live locked in their rooms, cut off from the outside world; are becoming a social problem.
The reason why the number of solitary young people is increasing is that in a competitive society where there are only winners and losers, it is becoming difficult to find a job, and young people who have failed have no opportunity to try again, so young people are losing hope and choosing to live a solitary life. As I remembered these stories, I began to pray and hope that our church's Nairobi Manmin Academy would become a ‘breakthrough’ that could provide even a little bit of hope to young people and help to our neighbors.
However, the truth is that it is not only solitary young people who have fears about the future. All humans living on this earth cannot be free from the fear of life.
Kushinda Hofu ya Wakati Ujao Usio na Uhakika 1
Andiko la Biblia: Mwanzo 15:1–6
“1. Baada ya mambo hayo, neno la BWANA likamjia Abramu katika maono, likisema, Usiogope, Abramu, Mimi ni ngao yako, na thawabu yako kubwa sana. 2. Abramu akasema, Ee Bwana MUNGU, utanipa nini, nami sina mtoto, na atakayerithi nyumba yangu ni Eliezeri wa Dameski? 3. Abramu akasema, Tazama, hukunipa uzao, na mtu aliyezaliwa nyumbani mwangu ndiye mrithi wangu. 4. Neno la BWANA likamjia, likisema, Huyu hatakurithi, bali atakayetoka ndani ya mwili wako ndiye atakayekurithi. 5. Akamleta nje, akasema, Tazama mbinguni, uzihesabu nyota, kama ukiweza kuzihesabu. Akamwambia, Ndivyo utakavyokuwa uzao wako. 6. Akamwamini BWANA, naye akamhesabia jambo hili kuwa haki.”
Habari moja niliyoisoma nchini Korea miaka michache iliyopita ilinivunja moyo sana. Ilisema kuwa kuna vijana 510,000 nchini kote wanaojitenga kwa sababu wanauogopa ulimwengu. Vijana hao hujifungia vyumbani mwao na kujitenga na watu wa nje; hali yao imekuwa tatizo la kijamii.
Sababu inayofanya idadi ya vijana wanaoishi peke yao iongezeke ni kwamba katika jamii yenye ushindani, ambamo kuna washindi na walioshindwa tu, kupata kazi kunazidi kuwa vigumu. Vijana walioshindwa hawapati nafasi ya kujaribu tena, kwa hiyo wanapoteza tumaini na kuchagua maisha ya kujitenga. Nilipokumbuka hadithi hizi, nilianza kuomba na kutumaini kuwa Chuo cha Manmin Nairobi cha kanisa letu kingekuwa “njia ya mafanikio” inayoweza kuwapa vijana tumaini hata kidogo na kusaidia majirani zetu.
Hata hivyo, ukweli ni kwamba si vijana wanaojitenga pekee walio na hofu kuhusu wakati ujao. Wanadamu wote wanaoishi duniani hawawezi kuepuka hofu ya maisha.
