Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.

The line frames faith not as an escape from reality but as a way of inhabiting it—an inner orientation that helps a person endure suffering (“tragedies”), live with uncertainty (“ambiguities”), and remain open to unexpected grace (“sudden, startling joys”). By placing joy alongside tragedy, L’Engle suggests a mature spirituality that expects life to be mixed and unpredictable rather than neatly resolved. The quote also implies that meaning is not guaranteed by circumstances; it is sustained by trust, hope, and a willingness to accept mystery. In L’Engle’s broader religious imagination, faith is often portrayed as a practice of attention and courage that makes room for both doubt and wonder.