He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good
pleasure, which he purposed in Christ… Ephesians 1:9
Human beings always want to know “why?” and “why not now?” But it’s precisely
because we are human we cannot know. That’s why mystery is so important to
understand. The entire book of Job is all about the “why” of suffering and in
the end God invites Job to see a bigger picture than even his suffering.
Creation is a mistake if all you see is your suffering. But if you lift your
eyes wider and let your gaze roam over the whole universe with God, you can also
see that creation has even more beauty and grace.
So we are to value mystery because it enables us to feel God’s love…love that
was fully revealed in Christ.
Sometimes we get to see “why?” and “why not now?” (one of the good aspects of
growing older). Often we don’t because we are the players of life in the
universe, not the playwright.
Christine Mallouhi in her excellent book, Waging Peace on Islam, makes
this significant conclusion:
The victorious and triumphant Christian life does not conjure up pictures of
suffering and death and feelings of abandonment. But this was all part of God's
victory in Christ. If this was the path the Master trod why should it be any
different for the servants? Jesus cried out "why?" and "where are you?" to God
when circumstances were crushing him. God is always greater than our
understanding of him and there will always be mystery about him that causes us
to fall down in awe and worship. This mystery, which we want to tidily
categorise, keeps causing struggles in our life. Every time we get God tidied up
like a ball of rubber bands, another end bursts out and the struggle begins over
again, until we learn to live in faith with untidy ends. If everything is clear
then faith is irrelevant. We are not called to solve the mystery, but enter
it.
RESPONSE: Today I will value mystery because it enables me to feel God’s
love.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord that though the world around us if full of
suffering, it is more full of beauty and grace. Help me to trust You and value
mystery.
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