When I was a teenager I heard a sermon on the mystery box. The pastor recommended that throughout life everyone should keep an imaginary box into which you place those things that happen in life for which there seems to be no good explanation. In the course of life, events and issues happen that we don’t understand. We ask “why” but never get an answer (though some well-meaning friends will offer their opinions). We pray for answers and reasons, but God is silent.
So when a painful, unexplainable event happens, open your mystery box, place the event inside, close the lid and then stop trying to figure it out. Someday, in heaven, open up the box and talk to God.
I remember the first thing I put in my box. When growing up, my hero was the minister of music at my church. He was a wonderful man and effective minister. When he was 42 years old (I was 18) he had a stroke and became incapacitated. He’s now in his 90’s. I wrestled with God about his illness and subsequent limited lifestyle. I finally opened up my mystery box, placed the anger, confusion, and unsolved mystery inside, and shut the lid.
I’m now 68 years old and have five things in my box.
This is a wonderful, effective way to deal with imponderables. By placing them in the box, we’re not denying or minimizing our pain and confusion. We’re simply acknowledging that there’s no clear answer available in this life, but there will be in the next. When we get to heaven, we can discuss these issues with God (though I think they will become clear the moment we arrive).
One of my favorite Bible passages is Isiah 55:8-9:
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
This is not new or shocking news. Do we actually think that God thinks like we do or is restricted by our limitations? If he did and was, He wouldn’t be God.
By the way, we often fumble the ball when responding to other people’s imponderables. We do them and God a disservice when we try to explain something for which there is no explanation. I even resist saying things like, “God will cause this to work out for your good” or, “this will make you stronger.” Either don’t say anything or suggest that they start their own mystery box. [Here’s a post I wrote titled Don’t say this to someone who is hurting.]
Let’s just trust God and his ways in our lives and the lives of other people.
Don –
Thanks for you weekly words of support, encouragement and thoughtful ideas on how to deal with Life! I look forward to them each week and appreciate your giving us some very useful ideas of how to better handle some challenging situations that we all face time and again.
Thanks, Jay. I do hope my posts are beneficial. Thanks for our friendship. Don
I really appreciate this reminder (and the fun visual cartoon): very helpful, thank you.
Thanks, Jan, for kind and affirming words. Don
Thanks Don…great concept: The Mystery Box. Romans 11:33-36 is a scripture that undergirds me when I try to figure out the mysteries. It contains quotations from Isaiah and Job.
“We’ll understand it all bye and bye.”
psail
It’s good to hear from you, Paul. I hope you and Sue are doing well. I have fond memories of our times together. Don
Well said Don. Thanks.
Thanks, Clyde.
Just what I needed. So many imponderables lately and they need a soft place to land outside of my worry and fret.
Thank you.
Carla, I like your phrase “they need a soft place to land.” Take care.
Seems like a good philosophy to me. It’s not good to give advice about things that you’re not sure about.
JcC, I like your thought “It’s not good to give advice about things that you’re not sure about.” Thanks for contributing.
One of my favorite Bible passages is Isiah 55:8-9:
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
This is becoming one of my favorite passages as well. I am currently reading “The Knowledge of the Holy” by Tozer. Too often, I do not acknowledge the holiness of God, but rather, take Him for granted. As I mature, I agree with you 100%…better to say nothing than to repeat the lesson of Job’s “friends”. Thanks Don!
Thanks, Chad, for affirming words. Don