Like most kids, I peppered my parents, (mostly my dad) with an endless array of pointed questions. We would be in the car driving somewhere and I would start. “How come the sky is blue? What makes it possible for the planes to take off? Why do the lizards move faster than the red ants?” (My childhood was spent in Hawaii.)

Dad would do his best to explain things, but often I remained unsatisfied.

Spiritually that happens to me as well. I seem to have a rather long list of things that pastors, Bible teachers and even the scriptures don’t seem to be able to “put it to bed for me.” Maybe it happens to you too.

Things like: I don’t get the Trinity. I know it exists. I can see all three persons at work at Christ’s baptism (Matthew 3). I see Their existence in the Great Commission (Matthew 28). But how do They relate? How do They function? How did They “separate” so Christ could come to the earth?

How can we resolve the existence of justice and mercy? In Numbers 25, Phinehas is honored for his zeal as he sticks a spear in the gut of a man and a woman (who admittedly were defying the law of God). But contrast that with the injunction in Matthew 5 to love our neighbor, turn the other check and show kindness.

And then there is the contrast of Predestination and the Free Will of Man.  Theologians have been debating that important principle for centuries. I can present many verses that defend each position. And I remain perplexed.

I could go on. God’s Word does leave us “scratching our heads” sometimes. And so do the events of life. “Why did my child die? Why did my husband leave us? Where is the goodness of God…I lost my job (again)?”

All those thoughts bring me to my Mystery Box. When I can’t seem to bring the two ends of the string together on a serious theological topic or even a personal dilemma, I put it in my Mystery Box. And trust my Savior.

When our frustrations, fears and questions reach that fever pitch and just can’t be resolved right now, God STILL MUST be trusted. We MUST lean into His gracious promises. We MUST take Him at His word. But we may still have some frustrations.

So, stick them in your Mystery Box. Save them for the day we all sit around in Heaven and discuss those things with eternal, expanded, fully aware minds. Because right now our brains just don’t match His. His thoughts and ways are just not ours (Isa. 55:8-9).

A Mystery Box can be so helpful. Try it!