Faithfulness:  Amidst Certain Uncertainty

Read: Luke 2: 41-52. 

Focus: But they did not understand what he said to them.   - Luke 2: 50

Consider: We think that faithfulness is dependent upon understanding. Control is something we want. As a new year is before us, many are already setting goals for outcomes. Some will be realized. Some will not.

I did not think that one year I would be in a job and the next year I would not. I did not think that some would set me into a terrifying freedom that they thought was best…for them. Corporate right-sizings. Church trials. Guard call-ups. Involuntary reassignments.  Transfers. Shake-ups. All are gut-wrenchers. We do not plan on them. But they are certain.

Even this year, nothing lasts forever. Except life everlasting, force ever unfolding. We do not know what is coming and we may not understand what is happening. The uncertainty is a dynamic of life. The holy parents did not understand their young one even though they bore him. But they lived on in faith with the mysterious occurrences not derailing them.

They knew mystery is real. And someday, this year or next or next, a glimpse of understanding reality might come.

Pray:  Knowing God of realization, enable us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed we are called in the one body. And be thankful. 

All contents copyright 2006 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.