I devoured several good detective-driven dramas and missing persons mysteries during March. There’s something about a good read in the spring sunshine. 

I do have to admit something: I’m NOT a good mystery reader. Far too often, I come across a case that can’t unfold fast enough. I can’t just end a chapter with a life on the line or my favorite character hanging off the cliff…so I flip to the end. That’s right, I bypass the spoiler alert and ruin the ending for myself. 

I sat laughing with my husband about how I impulsively and impatiently skip ahead to the end, but part of me wondered why. Why did I need to know how the story ended? Why couldn’t I just wait and see? Why did I rush my reading to get to the ending? Why couldn’t I sit at the end of a chapter? Why did I HAVE TO KNOW how it ends?

Well, to put it plainly and honestly: 

Because I crave control and comfort. 

Because not knowing is not okay for me.

Because uncertainty makes me anxious.

As I reflected on my tendency to turn too many pages at once, I thought about how I do the same in my own life. I want to look ahead and see how it ends. I want to skip right past the uncertain, unknown, and unsure and get to the unraveling. 

Will my test results come back clear or with concern?

Will my postpartum season be marked by anxiety?

Will my sons choose to follow Jesus faithfully?

Maybe you’ve asked similar questions.

Will my marriage make it through this?

Will we ever get past this pain?

Will I ever recover from this?

As I dug into my own life story, I realized it’s less mystery and more history. I don’t have to wait and see how my story ends. I don’t have to frantically flip to the end.

Jesus solved our mystery on Resurrection Sunday. 

We don’t have to sit at the cliffhanger or wait for the conclusion. It is finished. He wrote our ending, beautifully, wonderfully, better than we could have ever imagined. 

Us with Him.

No matter the chapters of our lives…

No matter the plot twists or turning points…

No matter the unknowns or uncertainties…

The end remains the same:

As believers, we will be whole and healed with our Father in eternity.

So, we don’t have to rush through the incredible, purposeful, beautiful, story He is writing. We already know how it ends.