Near the end of 2023 I spent some time in this space recapping the year through a series of posts that all started with the phrase “This is my story of…”. While we’re already a month and a half into 2024 it seems it’s time to make the transition from my 2023 theme “This is my story” to my theme for this new(ish) year: “Embrace the Mystery”.
The word “mystery” has come up frequently lately and to be honest, I’m not sure I love it. I like certainty and predictability, and I think most of us do. This call to “embrace” mystery comes with the hope to look into the future with a sense of adventure instead of fear. Instead of dreading the unknown ahead, I long to walk into situations this year with joyful anticipation.
I came into 2024 with a lot of questions. Questions about work situations. Questions in relationships. Questions about things that just don’t seem to be happening in the ways I’d expect. Questions about things that are coming together in more amazing ways than I could imagine.
Generally when I have a question, I set out to find the answers. I pray to seek God’s wisdom. I talk with friends. I research. And for some of my questions I’m still doing all of those things. But I’m also starting to learn the joy of not having to have answers to everything, to just waiting to see what might come around the next twist or turn. “Going with the flow” does not always come naturally to me, but I’m learning to enjoy it. There is a new peace as my shoulders lower and my jaw relaxes when I make a conscious decision to embrace instead of fight the mysteries in life. What gift to realize I don’t have to know everything. There’s already a God who does.
The sweetest mysteries I’m learning to embrace are the mysteries of Jesus. Despite hundreds of pages of Scripture describing my Savior and decades now of walking with Him in faith, so much about our God is completely unknown… perhaps even unknowable. I do not understand many of the ways in which He works. I cannot predict His plans. I will never likely comprehend the depths of his majesty and power. Yet, in the midst of all that mystery, I can hold to the things I can know, the things I DO know.
He loves me.
He is for me… on my side.
He has a plan and purpose for my life.
With those things settled I can rest in the mystery, and perhaps even enjoy it a little. Here’s to … well whatever the rest of 2024 brings! Let’s embrace the mystery!
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