"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 NIV
"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." Isaiah 55:8-9 The Message
It is difficult to understand why God allows certain things to happen. Recently there was a death in my home community that shook people to the core. A caring family man with a sense of humor, and a kind streak a mile wide, died in an accident. Friends have been saying, "I'm so angry at God!"...and what can I possibly reply? I don't get it either. Along with the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, the devastation in Haiti, children dying of cancer, and so many other "unexplainables", it is these times when I struggle with what to say to say.
I do believe that God can and will use these events to produce goodness in our human lives (see Romans 8:28). And because he has given us free will, I know that our decisions are often not those He would have us make...therefore many of the "unexplainable" events are not of His own design. But how can I begin to understand why? Why do bad things happen to good people? There is no simple answer.
Today's verse gives us a hint of the answer though. God's thoughts are so much higher than ours, his ways are so far beyond what we do, that we can not understand. He has a "sky-sized view"...while our view is more like that of the ant crawling on the ground. What seems huge to us, is miniscule to Him. A rock in an ant's path seems insurmountable to the ant; yet the rock can be held in the palm of our hand.
We have to choose to believe God's promise, that He is holding us in the palm of His hand, when we are facing what may seem like insurmountable odds.
This verse also gives me comfort when it appears my prayers are not being answered. When a loved one continues to make bad choices, when I continue to struggle with one of life's challenges, maybe I am overlooking "God's view". Too often, I expect that my prayers will be answered in my own, limited human ways...when God has more creative, grand, and even surprising ways in mind.
Prayer: God, comfort all of those who struggle with unexplainable events that shake their faith. Help them to see Your presence in even the most difficult of experiences, and remind them that You are holding them in the palm of Your hand. Jesus, remind us that you have a "sky-sized view" of life here in earth, and that this is why we struggle to understand from our "ant's perspective". Help us to trust that You have our best interests at heart, and that You will bring good from all of our experiences. Let me be more aware of your creative and sometimes surprising, answers to my prayers. Amen
Life Steps: What could I do this week that would bring some good, out of a bad situation? In my journal, let me begin to write down my prayers, and when I look for His sometimes surprising answers, write those in my journal as well. On the days where I doubt Him, I can review my journal and remember all His answered prayers.
More Healing Words of God: Romans 8:28; Isaiah 49:16
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