Much of our doubt and worry in life comes from fearing the unknown and no one cares much for that kind of uncertainty. So it makes sense that we would want to have everything known in advance.
We hate not knowing! The goal of having everything figured out is cemented into our psyche and our culture’s weltanschauung or worldview. Everyone wants their life laid out from A to Z in a predictable pathway with no surprises. We are all looking for a “big bang” reveal of our destiny.
But where is the faith in that? If everything is predetermined, prescribed, and imposed, then all we would need to do is show up. Right?
The unknown is actually a major part of our walk with God. It is not that God is unknown to us, not at all, but the surprises that come our way are. After all, if we know everything, or try to know everything, we are relying on our own power and the negativity consumes us when we seek a predictable pathway with everything fully revealed.
God does not want us to know everything.
Faith would not be faith if we had all the answers and never faced any obstacles or doubt. It’s the Big Bang Theory in reverse—God’s will for our life is not revealed in an explosion and flash of light. Consider this from his Word:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
It’s through our faith that we receive the blessings we hope for from God. It’s through our faith that we see our future in eternity with Christ. And it’s through our faith that we can look beyond the pleasures of this world to the comforts of God’s heavenly realm.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN
Realizing that we will never completely understand everything should bring us patience and contentment knowing that God will deal with the unknown and eventually reveal his will. Things will not happen right away, but they will happen “on time.” And even though we had been praying for an earlier resolution or revelation, our questions and concerns will finally calm down and even fade away, like a long rain eventually yielding to God’s flash of color in the sky.
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
If you’re like me, you no doubt wrestle with this immutable truth. I could give you many examples of things in my life that were “late,” and I’ll bet you can, too. Nonetheless, in every one of those cases I have been able to look back and see God’s perfect will.
And therein lies my primary point…
We get direction from God each day, but the full majesty of his will for our life comes into focus over time. Like the sun’s searing summer heat on the desert floor, the questions will never retreat. But this is yet another reason for us to spend time with the Lord and in his Word every day—to get that day’s direction!
