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Embracing the Uncertain: A Lenten Study for Unsteady Times
Just turning on the news lets us know we are living in uncertain times. Economic instabilities, eruptions of violence, and natural catastrophes can alter the lives and landscapes of entire communities. Our individual lives are often just as relationships can break, plans can falter, and confidence can fail.
Uncertainty can definitely be uncomfortable. Many of us prefer stability and a predictable future to an unknown fate. We are wired to want to control our destiny.
The reality is that in our fast-changing, unpredictable world there are few guarantees in life. It's those who are willing to embrace uncertainty and make the risky decision to follow Jesus despite the many unknowns who will reap the greatest rewards.
Embracing the Uncertain invites readers this Lent to engage and wrestle with life's uncertainties, not ignore them. The first six chapters focus on six post-Transfiguration, pre-Passion stories in the Gospels. Each of these stories are signposts in the gospel narrative, pointing down at a world filled with uncertainty, but pointing us forward to a cross that can show us how to follow Jesus with courage, hope, and obedience. Includes discussion questions that can be used in small-group Bible study session or for personal growth.
Uncertainty can definitely be uncomfortable. Many of us prefer stability and a predictable future to an unknown fate. We are wired to want to control our destiny.
The reality is that in our fast-changing, unpredictable world there are few guarantees in life. It's those who are willing to embrace uncertainty and make the risky decision to follow Jesus despite the many unknowns who will reap the greatest rewards.
Embracing the Uncertain invites readers this Lent to engage and wrestle with life's uncertainties, not ignore them. The first six chapters focus on six post-Transfiguration, pre-Passion stories in the Gospels. Each of these stories are signposts in the gospel narrative, pointing down at a world filled with uncertainty, but pointing us forward to a cross that can show us how to follow Jesus with courage, hope, and obedience. Includes discussion questions that can be used in small-group Bible study session or for personal growth.
- GenresNonfiction
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2017
63 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 8, 2021
This was the devotional we wound up using in 2021 for our small groups during lent. When you're still in the midst of a pandemic and having to resort to video small groups because of that, it seems like a fitting book to go through. Embracing the Uncertain: A Lenten Study for Unsteady Times seeks to look at some of the uncertainties of faith and life and how we hold onto the tension that is in life and isn't necessarily all removed due to our faith.
This was a devotional that I felt started out really strong. It really leaned into that idea of uncertainty and wrestling well and gave me much to think about. I think my favorite chapter was probably "Peter and the Uncertainty of Forgiveness." However, I'd probably say the first four chapters were probably the strongest. After that Devega still gives some good chapters, but they just wind up not being as strong.
This is I think due to two reasons. The first is that chapters start feeling different in what they're covering than what the title is. For example, chapter five is titled "Zacchaeus and the Uncertainty of Surrender" but the chapter itself tends to focus more on the idea that God sees us. There is a little bit of surrender here, but it's not quite as strong a connection as other chapters.
The second reason I felt that the chapters became weaker was a lack of willingness to embrace uncertainty in the last few chapters. I felt that in the first few chapters Devega was willing to embrace and be at peace with there being uncertainty in life and faith. In the final chapters of the book it felt more like uncertainty was being used as a way to achieve certainty.
For example in his last chapter goes through a number of these scenarios I'll present one here: "If you have a strained relationship with your Bible, wrestling over its words and even struggling to read it at all, then keep on reading it, every day, for the Holy Spirit will guide you until you can believe it." While I do get what he's saying, I'm also not sure that we'll ever stop wrestling with the words of Scripture and not struggle to believe it all, or even know fully what we are supposed to be believing from all the sections of the Bible.
With aspects of the book moving more in this direction near the end, it just wasn't quite as engaging to me. While I get that with Easter being the celebration of the resurrection, believing in the resurrection and the Bible's presentation of the resurrection is pretty important and uncertainty on that issue is a tough thing to hold onto too much. Even so, I just found the last chapters a little less engaging and moved into more pat answer territories.
All this said though, the book was a great source of discussion with the small group I was leading. I didn't even really have to use the questions at the end of each chapter. People came to discuss things they liked or were frustrated by each week and it wound up giving really good discussion. Even in these discussions I would say there was a noted disconnect with some of these later chapters. So while I would definitely recommend it as a small group Lenten study, I do feel like he loses steam a little over halfway and that some of the best chapters are near the beginning.
This was a devotional that I felt started out really strong. It really leaned into that idea of uncertainty and wrestling well and gave me much to think about. I think my favorite chapter was probably "Peter and the Uncertainty of Forgiveness." However, I'd probably say the first four chapters were probably the strongest. After that Devega still gives some good chapters, but they just wind up not being as strong.
This is I think due to two reasons. The first is that chapters start feeling different in what they're covering than what the title is. For example, chapter five is titled "Zacchaeus and the Uncertainty of Surrender" but the chapter itself tends to focus more on the idea that God sees us. There is a little bit of surrender here, but it's not quite as strong a connection as other chapters.
The second reason I felt that the chapters became weaker was a lack of willingness to embrace uncertainty in the last few chapters. I felt that in the first few chapters Devega was willing to embrace and be at peace with there being uncertainty in life and faith. In the final chapters of the book it felt more like uncertainty was being used as a way to achieve certainty.
For example in his last chapter goes through a number of these scenarios I'll present one here: "If you have a strained relationship with your Bible, wrestling over its words and even struggling to read it at all, then keep on reading it, every day, for the Holy Spirit will guide you until you can believe it." While I do get what he's saying, I'm also not sure that we'll ever stop wrestling with the words of Scripture and not struggle to believe it all, or even know fully what we are supposed to be believing from all the sections of the Bible.
With aspects of the book moving more in this direction near the end, it just wasn't quite as engaging to me. While I get that with Easter being the celebration of the resurrection, believing in the resurrection and the Bible's presentation of the resurrection is pretty important and uncertainty on that issue is a tough thing to hold onto too much. Even so, I just found the last chapters a little less engaging and moved into more pat answer territories.
All this said though, the book was a great source of discussion with the small group I was leading. I didn't even really have to use the questions at the end of each chapter. People came to discuss things they liked or were frustrated by each week and it wound up giving really good discussion. Even in these discussions I would say there was a noted disconnect with some of these later chapters. So while I would definitely recommend it as a small group Lenten study, I do feel like he loses steam a little over halfway and that some of the best chapters are near the beginning.
April 27, 2019
Resurrection Story
I enjoyed the whole book and found it flush with ideas new to me and interpretations of applying the scriptures that were very relatable. I especially liked Chapter 7 looking at how the four Gospels interpret the resurrection differently. It is easy sometimes to get caught up in the details of the story and miss the message the Lord is speaking to us through the scriptures.
I enjoyed the whole book and found it flush with ideas new to me and interpretations of applying the scriptures that were very relatable. I especially liked Chapter 7 looking at how the four Gospels interpret the resurrection differently. It is easy sometimes to get caught up in the details of the story and miss the message the Lord is speaking to us through the scriptures.
April 13, 2020
What a timely choice for our group Lenten study. Little did we know that only two weeks in, all our scheduled meetings would be cancelled because of a worldwide pandemic. Talk about unsteady times!
As I completed the book on my own, I was constantly drawn back to the theme of the grace of God - prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying. Much comfort was found in knowing that whatever happens, God is already there.
As I completed the book on my own, I was constantly drawn back to the theme of the grace of God - prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying. Much comfort was found in knowing that whatever happens, God is already there.
March 18, 2018
This was a thought provoking and different view of Jesus' encounter with people during his ministry and how what he said and did can help us in the difficult times we live in today. A great Lenten study.
March 10, 2022
Enjoyable Bible Study
This Bible study was just right for my ladies midweek Bible study. It offers just the right mix of deep theological insight as well as contemporary and everyday application of the scriptures I would highly recommend
This Bible study was just right for my ladies midweek Bible study. It offers just the right mix of deep theological insight as well as contemporary and everyday application of the scriptures I would highly recommend
April 20, 2022
Discussed for Bible Study during Lent 2022. A little different take on the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Looked more at the meaning of the Holy Week events than at the events. We all learned a lot and had good discussions.
April 5, 2018
Insightful. Easy to read. Used with group Lenten book study. All enjoyed, learned, discussed.
April 22, 2019
A perfectly serviceable small group study for the Lenten season, with a few piercing observations that will stay with me for a while. I was hoping for something even deeper, though.
April 14, 2020
this is an excellent Lenten study for groups or for individuals - our Sunday school class started this before the Covid-19 quarantine - our leader artfully finished the last 3 chapters on U Tube! It was a blessing for sure since the topic covers it ALL - clearly uncertain times = this will strengthen ones faith and understanding of Jesus/God
Read
March 29, 2021Read this for Lenten bible study definitely brought forth great discussions.
March 11, 2022
A short, but inspiring, book. So many great insights that I did not expect from the Gospel passages chosen. Definitely worth the read. Enjoy!
Want to read
February 16, 2024Tuesday Bible Study for Lent 2024 at Christ United Methodist Church
April 19, 2023
Our church and Sunday School class did this book for Lent and it inspired some great discussions. Nicely written.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews