Abraham was a nomad in a strange, hostile region. It was an uncertain time.

Israel stood between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea. It was an uncertain time.

Israel stood at the border of the land God promised them. Ten spies said this wonderful territory would be impossible to conquer. It was an uncertain time.

For seven days Joshua marched Israel's army around Jericho. This was their first battle in the conquest of Canaan. It was an uncertain time.

David fled from King Saul in the wilderness. It was an uncertain time.

The captive Daniel walked to Babylon. Though he trusted God, he was among the first captives to be exiled. It was an uncertain time.

Jeremiah preached certain information to a nation who was deaf to everything he said. It was an uncertain time.

After raising the dead, Jesus was executed on a cross. It was an uncertain time.

In each of these, the final outcome was determined by the accepted "reality:" confidence in God produced by faith, or godless anxiety produced by fearing the times. Sometimes trusting God produced immediate results; sometimes it did not.

The President awaited trial in the Senate. The day of the Y2K problem was on the horizon. A leader who hated us built weapons of mass destruction. Social problems grew more complex. The percentage of Americans married hit a low. The percentage of children living without both natural parents hit a high. It was an uncertain time.