Life before COVID-19 was already tough. It never crossed our minds that life could still be more challenging than it already was.

The pandemic has complicated our lives in more ways than we can enumerate—from the way education is facilitated to the way we hangout with friends; from the way we plan our future to the way we plan our weekend.

You can probably relate with this. You thought things were already looking up, but the number of new cases spiked anew because of new COVID-19 variants, dragging us back to square one. You thought face-to-face classes would return soon, but despite the availability of vaccines, the idea of going back to your campus still looks bleak.

With so many complications and uncertainties, trying to envision our future can be daunting or even discouraging. Can we still look forward with hope? Can our optimism be anchored on more than just pep talk and wishful thinking?

Here are three reasons our future is still brighter than it seems today.

1. God is the one who upholds and sustains the world.

The world may look dark and hopeless these days, but believe it or not, the world could have been totally destroyed were it not for God’s common grace and providential care for His creation. 

In the midst of the many evil things that are happening in the world, God is not sleeping at the wheel. He’s still in charge. He upholds all things by the word of His power, and in Him, all things hold together (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17).

If your life is surrendered to Christ, you can be certain that all things—including your pain, disappointments, failures, and struggles—will work together for your own good. (Romans 8:28)

The best part is this: God’s character can be trusted. What He promised, He will do.

The Old Testament is a historical record of the many things that God promised and fulfilled. These things include promises of childbearing, protection, redemption, and restoration. Even the judgments that God had pronounced came to pass.

The coming of Jesus into the world was the greatest promise that God fulfilled. And when God said that He will someday end all suffering at Jesus’ return, He will surely do it. For when God speaks, He never goes back on His word. 

2. God is the one who determines our steps.

Planning our lives can be the most difficult thing to do at the moment. We can’t even make plans for vacation because of our current circumstances; how can we even plan the next three or five years of our lives?

Let us find comfort in this verse: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

This verse invites us to be confident in planning our lives, having full assurance that God will be the one to determine and establish our steps. Even when you’re unsure of so many things—finances, timing, support, or whatever—you may proceed with confidence and take the necessary leap of faith.

But here’s the caveat: We can only be sure that our plans will succeed and that our future is secure when we seek God’s wisdom and guidance before making any plans. Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Planning is an invitation to trust God more. To trust God is to seek His will, consult His word, and to prayerfully go through the planning process.

What college degree would you like to take? Plan confidently, pray boldly, and seek God’s guidance.

What career path would you like to pursue? Trust God’s sovereignty and power. He will lead you to the best job He has planned for you.

This is His promise: The LORD directs and makes firm the steps of those who delight in Him. (Psalm 37:23)

3. Jesus guarantees a good future for us.

Jesus came so we can have life to the full (John 10:10). This fullness of life describes a life of abundance, satisfaction, and freedom.

His death on the cross purchased for us the certainty of this kind of life, and we can experience it with Him when we put our faith in Him and walk in relationship with Him. In Christ, all of God’s promises are fulfilled.

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

Not only did Jesus fulfill all of God’s promises, He also gave us access to experience the richness of God’s provision and fullness of life that God had promised for His children.

This “bright future” could mean the fulfillment of your dreams and aspirations for this lifetime on earth—your dream career, your dream house, or the family you plan to build. Or this could be so much better than we can dare imagine: An eternity of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction in the presence of God. 

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

John 14:1–3

Our present challenges can never dictate or diminish the future that God has promised to us. Our future is still brighter than we think despite our present circumstances because God is trustworthy. His purpose and promises for your life and for the world can never be thwarted.