The Grand Paradox: The Messiness of Life, the Mystery of God and the Necessity of Faith

by Ken Wytsma

We want answers from God. We have a ravenous appetite for clarity in life. And often, we desire justification or, at least, some kind of explanation for why He allows certain things to transpire. God, however, is more mysterious than we think He should be or wish He were. Most of the time, we don’t

receive the desired answers or the clarity for which we clamor. In spite of our seeking, God seems just out of our reach. Try as we might, we cannot pin Him down. In short, the truth is: life is messy, and God is mysterious. We struggle with these truths. We spend our energy, often wrestling in prayer, hoping to attain that place of peace in which our life is less difficult, painful, and challenging. Yet the messiness of life remains a constant reality, and God remains mysterious. Life is messy and God is mysterious.

We even find this tension echoed in the teaching of Jesus: while we desire simple formulas, Jesus taught in apparent riddles. So how do we live, grow, flourish, and

remain content in the mess? How do we trust, follow, and continue to obey God when He seems to remain elusive?

faith is often characterized less by clarity than by confusion.

it’s time for a frank conversation about the true nature of Christian faith.