The Importance of Mystery
By Toby Armstrong
John Steinbeck once wrote,
"Like most modern people, I don't believe in prophecy or magic and then spend half my time practicing it."
It’s a curious statement, isn’t it? At first, it feels like a contradiction—how can we deny something while secretly engaging with it? But when you really think about it, this tension defines much of postmodern life. We live in a world driven by data, logic, and science, yet we are also drawn to mystery, wonder, and the unexplainable.
We look for signs to guide us, carry good luck charms, wonder about fate, and according to a recent Ipsos poll, around 31% of young adults (18-34 years old) in the U.S. check their horoscopes to understand their lives, particularly when dealing with stress or uncertainty read more here. We might say we don’t believe in mystery, but deep down, we long for it. The truth is, no matter how much we try to explain and control everything, there’s something in us that craves the unknown—something beyond what we can measure or predict. And maybe that’s because, as much as we like to be in control, we’re wired for mystery.
In today’s world, we love the idea that we can predict and control the future. From weather forecasts to financial planning, from wellness routines to productivity hacks, we seek certainty in every corner of life. Hustle culture (as we talked about in a previous post) thrives on this desire for control, feeding us the lie that if we just work hard enough, we can master every aspect of our lives.
But here’s the catch: no matter how much control we think we have, life remains unpredictable. There are always unknowns—things we can’t explain or fully grasp. And this can either frustrate us or invite us into a different way of living—one that welcomes mystery instead of resisting it.
Christianity, at its core, embraces mystery. The way of Jesus invites us into a life where not everything is understood or explained—and that’s okay. We live in the tension between knowing and not knowing, faith and doubt, certainty and wonder. God, in all of God's greatness, is beyond our full comprehension. And that’s a good thing.
In the biblical narrative, we see this all the time. Think about the miracles Jesus performed. No amount of science or logic can fully explain how Jesus walked on water, healed the sick, or raised the dead. These acts invite us to wonder, not to understand every detail. The mystery of God is part of what makes our faith rich and alive. If we could explain every aspect of God, would God be big enough to truly trust?
As Steinbeck pointed out, we often live in the tension between skepticism and mystery. We say we don’t believe in magic, and yet we practice it in our own ways—hoping, praying, seeking something beyond what we can control. This isn't a contradiction; it's a sacred invitation. It's a reminder that the world is more than what we see on the surface.
In fact, what if the moments of mystery—the times when we don’t know or understand—are the moments when God is doing the deepest work in us? When we embrace the unknown, we’re making space for God to move in ways that go beyond our expectations.
Meister Eckhart, a Christian mystic, offers a profound reflection on the role of mystery in our relationship with God:
"Let God work in you, give the work to God, and have peace. Don't worry if your work seems small and insignificant. Just give it to God. God does not ask anything more of you than that you let yourself go and let God be God in you."
Let God be God. That's often the hard part, isn't it? Eckhart’s words remind us that releasing our need for control opens the door for something far more profound: God’s presence and action in our lives. The mystery we often resist is where God is most active, working in ways we might never fully understand but can always trust.
We all want certainty. We want to know how things will turn out, to have a map for our lives. But the way of Jesus is different. Instead of offering us step-by-step instructions, Jesus calls us to follow into the unknown. To trust that Jesus is leading us, even when we can’t see the whole picture.
This requires letting go of our need for control. It means acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers—and that’s okay. We’re not meant to know everything. We’re invited into a life of wonder, where mystery is not something to solve, but something to embrace.
The mystery we’re talking about isn’t just about the big, spiritual questions. It’s also woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Think about the way you feel when you stare up at the stars, or when a song stirs something deep inside you. There’s a beauty in those moments that can’t be fully explained.
Relationships, too, are filled with mystery. No matter how well we know someone, there are always layers to uncover, new depths of connection to explore. And isn’t that what makes relationships so rich? It’s the unknown, the unfolding story, that keeps us engaged and growing.
At The Outpost, we believe in the beauty of mystery. Our mantra—rest, reset, reimagine everything—is an invitation to live in the tension of not knowing; the tension of a story that is still unfolding. It’s an acknowledgment that we don’t have all the answers, but we trust in a God who holds all things together.
As we navigate life, let’s resist the urge to explain everything away. Instead, let’s embrace the mystery. Let’s welcome the unknown with open hearts and minds, trusting that God is doing something beautiful in the spaces where we don’t yet have answers.
So here’s a question for you:
Not in a weird or detached way, but with spiritual collaboration in mind.
As Steinbeck suggests, maybe we’re already practicing this balance between doubt and faith more than we realize. And maybe the real magic lies not in solving the mystery, but in living it.
