Our natural inclination is to be so precise—trying always to forecast exactly what will happen next—that we see uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some pre-determined goal, but that’s not the nature of the spiritual life. Now I’m not saying having goals and achieving them isn’t important. What I am saying is that we put ourselves in a mindset that says not knowing all and being uncertain of everything tomorrow may bring is somehow “Un-Godly”.
The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance that we have never been in.
Certainty is the mark of a commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This might make some feel sad, but it should produce a sense of breathless expectation, because we’re uncertain of the next step of the adventure, and we are certain of God. When we begin to simply do the things God has put closest to us and abandon our reliance on knowing everything, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or defender of OUR particular belief, something within us dies.
Jesus said,”…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are notuncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joy filled uncertainty and expectancy.
Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in—but you can be certain that He will come.
