Good morning…
One line lingers in my mind from the passage I shared in yesterday’s post. Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7, CEV).
In so many confusing ways we “don’t really know” what God is doing. We “don’t really know” why some people are plagued by disease or depression, infertility or dementia, physical handicaps or gender identity struggles. We “don’t really know” how we can pray diligently for the healing of our deeply loved ones, as God encourages us to bring Him our specific requests, and yet some are miraculously cured and others are not. We “don’t really know” how God is at work in those who choose suicide, those who die suddenly, or those who battle relentless addiction. In so many confusing ways we “don’t really know” what God is doing.
Jesus promises…but later you will understand. Later. Not now. Unfortunately, our brains and our hearts are not equipped to “really know” today.
The Lord says:
“My thoughts and my ways
are not like yours.
Just as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways
are higher than yours.
Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return
without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant
and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me
without doing everything
I send them to do” (Isaiah 55:8-11, CEV).
Today and every day, we are dependent upon God to sprinkle His words into our “don’t really know” state, to teach us His higher thoughts, to school us in His higher ways. The LORD promises to rain down words of understanding over time, words that will water our thirst, will nourish our hunger, and will produce meaningful seeds for us to plant. God says He will send a snow flurry of productive, life-giving words, in His good time, in His wise way. Later, eventually, we will understand. Today is just not that day.
As we wrestle with life’s confusing questions, we nestle into these basic truths:
1) We “don’t really know” but God fully understands.
2) Later we too will understand.
3) God is God and God keeps His promises.
As we increasingly trust eternal truths, we are released from our need to know right now. Gradually, we will live our way into the freedom of verse 12. When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace. Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap. Patiently trusting God’s higher ways, we join creation’s celebratory chorus.
…Sue…
