It can be difficult to sit in the tension of the “both-and,” the paradox of experiencing two seemingly conflicting emotions at the same time. Like joy and sorrow, fear and trust, anger and love, forgiveness and relational distance.

Yet the Bible is filled with paradoxes - truths that seem contradictory. Faith itself is a paradox (evidence of things unseen). As we celebrate Jesus’ birth - God incarnate - we’re celebrating a paradox. The entire gospel is made up of paradoxes - about Jesus, God, and even our human condition. The bad news of our sin is actually Good News - that we need a Savior!

We must learn to embrace paradox, the “both-and” of life and faith, in order to live out our faith in obedience. Thankfully, God is with us in it. He embodies paradox, so he understands the tension and can help us navigate it with a "peace that passes all understanding.”