“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)
We have to admit that there are moments in time when we don’t really understand what God is doing. From our perspective, life should go the way we want it to go, and when it doesn’t, it’s tempting to think that God is disengaged from our lives. Thankfully, Isaiah sheds some light on how to deal with the discrepancy when it comes about.
In those moments when we think God doesn’t know what He’s doing, we run into these words: “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” God sees things differently than we do because He has the privilege of being omniscient – He knows all. We’re focused on the immediate, but God is focused on the ultimate. There is a place where He is moving us, and though we’d like to know where that place is, He is often slow to reveal His plans.
When God’s ways seem incomprehensible to you, it’s more wise to change your understanding of the circumstances than it is to change your understanding of God.
When those times come, ask the Lord to help you learn all that He wants to teach you. You may be surprised to find out that He is doing His greatest work in you just when you think He has forgotten all about you.
Lord, please keep me from being discouraged when things in my life don’t go the way that I expect and hope. Keep me from being defeated by my circumstances, and let me, in turn, seek to learn all that You want to teach me. In those moments, help me to be a fast learner so I do not have to bear the circumstances any longer than necessary. In the end, let my trust in You be ever stronger.
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