We need to stay with the story. If we don’t stay with the unfolding drama of the Bible (looking forward to Christ in the first testament—and back to him in the second) we can end up consumed by worry.

Take Paul for instance. In the 9^th chapter of his letter to the Romans he admits to being so concerned for his countrymen that he wishes that he could trade his relationship to Christ for their rescue (Rom 9:1-3).

Yet three chapters later he’s expressing a different emotion. By the time he gets to the end of chapter 11, the agony of his concern is replaced by his conviction that the glory of God’s goodness is beyond words.

After facing head on the hard thought that God shows mercy and compassion on his terms rather than ours (Rom 9;15-18), Paul concludes (in the paraphrase of The Message): “In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in. Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?

Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.” (Rom 11:32-36)

We need to learn from what we see Paul doing here. By moving from one of the most difficult of all truths to overflowing emotions of praise, he seems to be telling us that—regardless of what we might be thinking at the moment– as we find him  in Christ, God  is far better, far wiser, and far more loving than we ever thought possible.

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