The Gift of Uncertainty

“It may actually be more healthy to be disturbed, confused, or searching than confident, certain, and secure.” – Mark Scandrette

We live in a culture where it's hard to be certain about anything.  It's hard to know what is "real" and what isn't at times.  

My social media feed is becoming increasingly inundated with AI-generated news stories, photos, videos, and the like.  

For example, I've seen the same news story about famous sports figures, musicians, and actors who donated money to the families of Texas flood victims, complete with photos of the stars hugging people, all of which was generated by artificial intelligence.  

Same story. Different stars. Fake photos.  Many of the people on my social media feed shared these stories, believing them to be real and wanting to assume the best about them without closely examining them.   

In a world that is seemingly less and less certain, it's no wonder that these kinds of things happen more and more frequently.  

Most of us long for certainty in life and faith. We want clear answers, neat explanations, and a roadmap for every twist and turn. But faith was never meant to eliminate uncertainty—it was meant to help us live well within it.

Peter Enns, in his book "The Sin of Certainty," reminds us: “What God desires most is our trust, not our ‘correct’ beliefs.” Faith, then, isn’t about having everything figured out; it’s about leaning into God when nothing makes sense. In fact, if we had absolute clarity, there would be no need for trust at all.

The Bible gives us a striking example in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Notice the call is not to "know" everything, but to "trust" completely—even when understanding is out of reach.

Uncertainty can feel uncomfortable, even frightening. But consider this: every moment of confusion is an invitation to deeper dependence on God. When our confidence in our own understanding wanes, our capacity to listen, learn, and grow expands. That’s where transformation happens.

Scandrette’s words challenge our assumptions: “It may actually be more healthy to be disturbed, confused, or searching than confident, certain, and secure.” Why? Because certainty can breed complacency, while searching keeps us humble, open, and responsive to the Spirit’s leading.

Jesus never promised us a tidy faith. Instead, he called his disciples to follow him, without providing full explanations or guarantees. They walked uncertain paths because they trusted the One who walked with them. That’s the essence of discipleship: not clinging to perfect answers, but clinging to Jesus.

So if you find yourself wrestling with doubt or asking hard questions, take heart. You’re not failing at faith—you’re living it. To live with uncertainty is to live in the tension of trust, and in that tension, we are shaped into true followers of Christ.

Today, may you have the courage to embrace the unknown, trusting that Jesus is leading you—step by step—into an abundant life. Let your searching become sacred. Let your uncertainty be the space where faith comes alive.

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.