How often have you heard someone (perhaps yourself) make the puzzled comment: "I don't understand what God is doing."Are you surprised that you don't?
Sometimes it is framed as a question, when strange things happen. I wonder why God has allowed that to happen? Or, I wonder how long God will allow that to continue? Or, I don't understand what God is trying to teach me in this?
Sometimes it is framed as a future answer. I guess I won't understand this until I look back on things.
Sometimes it is framed as a complaint. Am I being punished for something I did wrong? My "Aunt" is a fine Christian, why is God doing that to her? If this is how God treats His friends, I am not sure I can believe in Him any more.
Sometimes people claim to know exactly what God is doing (not doing) and why. She hasn't been healed because her faith is so weak. His business is failing because God knows he treats his family so badly. God is teaching you patience. God is disciplining you.
To all of the above there seems a very biblical response given by God many centuries ago.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8, 9
Who am I to think I can understand the purpose and plans of God? His perspective is eternal, I am time bound. He sees the whole picture, I see a tiny part of the puzzle. He is the Creator of all, I am one small player on one small planet.
Yes, He has revealed much about how He works and why He works. As we study Scripture we gain increasing insight into the ways of God. But we should never let ourselves think that we can definitely, regularly say "this is what God is doing and this is why He is doing it." Humility should keep us couching our best biblical wisdom as "God may be telling you"; "I think God is teaching me"; "You might consider that God is allowing this because".
What young child understands fully why she is taught the alphabet, why she really must learn to swim or why she can't have the toy she so desperately wants? Yet she is far closer to her parents in knowledge and understanding than we are to God's omniscience.
So while we are called to pursue knowledge and wisdom, we must continue to live by faith! Our Heavenly Father knows best and He is in ultimate control.
Sometimes it is framed as a question, when strange things happen. I wonder why God has allowed that to happen? Or, I wonder how long God will allow that to continue? Or, I don't understand what God is trying to teach me in this?
Sometimes it is framed as a future answer. I guess I won't understand this until I look back on things.
Sometimes it is framed as a complaint. Am I being punished for something I did wrong? My "Aunt" is a fine Christian, why is God doing that to her? If this is how God treats His friends, I am not sure I can believe in Him any more.
Sometimes people claim to know exactly what God is doing (not doing) and why. She hasn't been healed because her faith is so weak. His business is failing because God knows he treats his family so badly. God is teaching you patience. God is disciplining you.
To all of the above there seems a very biblical response given by God many centuries ago.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8, 9
Who am I to think I can understand the purpose and plans of God? His perspective is eternal, I am time bound. He sees the whole picture, I see a tiny part of the puzzle. He is the Creator of all, I am one small player on one small planet.
Yes, He has revealed much about how He works and why He works. As we study Scripture we gain increasing insight into the ways of God. But we should never let ourselves think that we can definitely, regularly say "this is what God is doing and this is why He is doing it." Humility should keep us couching our best biblical wisdom as "God may be telling you"; "I think God is teaching me"; "You might consider that God is allowing this because".
What young child understands fully why she is taught the alphabet, why she really must learn to swim or why she can't have the toy she so desperately wants? Yet she is far closer to her parents in knowledge and understanding than we are to God's omniscience.
So while we are called to pursue knowledge and wisdom, we must continue to live by faith! Our Heavenly Father knows best and He is in ultimate control.
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