WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Can we be at peace with the unknown? Proverbs 21:12

Can we be settled with the unknown?


TODAY'S PROVERB: The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, throwing the wicked down to their ruin. Proverbs 21:12

Today's proverb is one of those confusing passages. There are as many interpretations of this as there are wonderful scholars and theologians. The only agreement is the second half of the verse that states that the wicked will be punished.

So, why did I choose yet another obscure proverb? Especially when my goal with these blogs is to generally shine a light on something relevant.

Here's what happened to me this morning. I was confounded by the lack of lack of a definitive interpretation of this passage. It was unsettling. That feeling reminded me of other moments where I felt unsettled about not knowing precisely what I felt I needed to know or what to do.

That's when I realized today's message--at least for me, and I hope for you all--is that there are times when there isn't a clear answer.

Sometimes we can't give a definitive "yes" or "no." It's just, "I don't know." Many times it's the answer to the "why" question--"Why did GOD . . ." or "Why didn't GOD . . ."

Or, we want to know what will happen in the future. Will we get the job? Get married? Get pregnant? Get the result we're praying for?

This made me ask myself, the real question: Is my security in knowing, or in GOD?

We aren't going to know everything, otherwise why would we need to have faith? 
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
"Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Think about that. Our very salvation is based on believing in Someone we've never physically met face-to-face. 
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. And even though you don’t see Him now, you trust Him and are filled with a joy that is glorious beyond words, receiving the outcome of your faith—the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1: 8-9

So, how can we be unsettled with a few unanswered questions?

Knowing who GOD is--His character, His love, His omniscience, His omnipotence--well, isn't that enough? Yes. It is. Because we have experienced it in our lives.

When our journey stalls because of the unknown, we need to go back to what we know. Then we can be settled and at peace with the questions--the unknown.

May we be okay with the questions and unknown, my friends.

Proverbs 21:12, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]



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