It was a brisk night, a gentle yet unwelcome breeze causing the men to pull their cloaks in tight to keep them warm. They were settling in to their night’s work, keeping watch over their master’s sheep. One man watched another stoke the fire, while a third relentlessly told them his stories, laughing at his own jokes and beginning to annoy his coworkers. It was just another night at work.
These shepherds ordinary lives were suddenly interrupted, as a bright light brought their gaze upward. A host of angelic messengers appeared in the sky, announcing the birth of the Messiah. They gladly sang His praises, and sent the shepherds to go find this special child. Without even thinking, they ran to town together until they found a baby laying in a manger.
It's this moment that captures my imagination this Christmas season. These men had left their work and hustled back to town to see something spectacular, but when they arrived, what did they see? A beautiful newborn, born in a barn. The sight must have been novel, sure, but what was so special about this boy? Did he really deserve an angelic announcement?
These shepherds found themselves in the middle of history’s greatest mystery. God became man, stepped into our world to save us, but he looked so ordinary.
“Is this really it?” they must have thought. Could this actually be the Messiah, or do we need to keep looking? What proof did they have? Did they just dream that angelic scene? Maybe they had drunk a little too much wine, trying to stay warm? It all seemed so real when they saw it, but here in the stable, they were left with more questions than answers.
I think I can relate. I’ve had moments with God that felt so big and real, where He spoke so clearly to me. They are inevitably followed by the mundane struggles of life. In that tension, what once seemed so powerfully real comes into question. Certainty crashes head on with mystery.
These two words, certainty and mystery, describe the tension that is faith. They form the foundation of Christian life. We are certain of God, His existence, His love, His power. In the same breath, however, we are stuck in a mystery, with so many questions that we can’t answer.
The shepherds chose to embrace certainty in the mystery of Christ. They could have walked away frustrated and confused, rejecting the mystery outright. It would have made sense to explain it all away. Instead, they chose to-
“spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” `Luke 2:17-20.
In the face of mystery, they leaned into certainty. They chose to accept the mystery as it was, no questions asked. Leaning into faith filled confidence in God, they celebrated this mystery as it was offered to them. What a delightful, admirable example!
I’m facing my very own mystery that has shaken my faith. I’ve recently left a career and a life that was filled with challenges, but was also comfortable and secure. I’m certain of God’s leadership in this move. At the same time, I don’t know what my future is going to look like. Finding a steady income has been incredibly challenging. I worry a lot about my family and our future. I’m faced with a question I can’t answer- “If God has called me here, why does the future seem so unclear?”
Like the shepherds, I find myself wondering and doubting His voice. I could walk away, frustrated and confused, and reject this mystery outright. It would make a lot of sense.
Instead, I’ll embrace the mystery, just as God has given it to me. Come what may, I’ll choose to be confident in His leadership. He has always been faithful. He’s never failed, and He won’t start now.
Lord, increase my faith. Help me be certain in the face of your mysteries. Amen.