Leaving Room for the Mysteries

By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Comfortable with the Unknown

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

I have made peace with the unknown and the idea that I cannot find the answer to every question I have. The mystery of God is a hard concept for humans. Our brains are geared to hunt the answers. 

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:4 English Standard Version

I hear a number of new Christians or those who are searching for answers get hung up on the mysteries. Where did God come from? Why is God so good and also so cruel? So many questions with answers that we don’t know and may never know.

Our brains are amazing, but we can’t comprehend all God is.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”
Isaiah 55:8 English Standard Version

Guarding our hearts and minds with the word of God and knowing that we may never know the answers to the questions we have is imperative. People can be led down a dark path when they think they know the answers by reason and logic. 

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:8 English Standard Version

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask the questions, but when someone begins to give answers according to the world we should filter wisely. 
Embracing the mysteries of Christ is imperative in our spiritual growth. It may seem counterproductive in our minds that we can’t find the answer to something, but being at peace with the unknown allows us to move on to things that we can comprehend. Spiritual concepts are simple, not difficult. If we are tripping again and again over the difficult questions, it’s hard to become like children and accept the simple concept of love. 

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3 English Standard Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

About Elizabeth Haarberg

Elizabeth Williams Haarberg lives in Kearney, Nebraska with her husband and four children. She has lived in many places but has found her true home with God.