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For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you 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 55:8,9Isaiah 55:8,9
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 The Lord says: “My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. ⁹ Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.

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Have you ever looked at something that is happening in the news and wondered where God is in all of it? Have you found yourself questioning why God allows certain things to happen in life? Have you ever said, “If I were God I would not have done it that way.”? I have. I have done all of the above. And somehow in the midst of asking those questions, I have felt right about doing so… but boy was I wrong. What was I thinking? Who am I to question God’s ways of working? My little mind is incapable of holding a fraction of his knowledge and understanding. I have absolutely NO room to question God’s ways, but I still do, sometimes. And you do, too.

We question his ways because all we see is a tiny portion of the big picture. God sees the whole thing, from beginning to end. He knows all the purposes behind every move he makes. He knows the reasons why he allows each circumstance to occur. He has a plan. And we only have an opinion. Our opinions are based on our limited vision. His actions are based on a timeless plan that began before creation that has our good and his glory as the ultimate goal. What we see as a tragedy or a catastrophic occurrence is simply part of his master plan that will bring about his will in any given situation. We can know this in our heads, but we must respond to this truth with a heart of faith.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth…” Our earth is part of the Milky Way galaxy. That galaxy has a diameter of about 100,000 light-years, and is about 16,000 light years thick at the center. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year. At the speed of 186,282 miles per second, a light-year would cover about 6 trillion miles. And that is just a small fraction of our entire universe. This is the comparison between our thoughts and God’s thoughts. It’s not just how high up the clouds are. It’s not as high as the moon, or even the sun. It is this idea of light-years of distance between God’s mind and ours that makes sense. The One who created this vast universe and all that is in it has thoughts that are “universally” higher than ours. So, when he plans something and carries it out in our lives, even though we may not understand it, we can respond in faith and know that it is for our good (Jeremiah 29:11Jeremiah 29:11
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
11 I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering.

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“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
6 But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.

WP-Bible plugin) This is where it all shakes out in our lives. We can doubt and criticize and question God’s ways. The result will be bitterness and resentment that will eat away at our walks with God. Or we can act in faith, and know that God is sovereign and in control and that he has our best ultimately in mind. This faith pleases God, and the result will be a peace and assurance that God does love us, and a more intimate walk with him. It seems clear which way would most benefit our lives. The choice is ours. And so are the consequences or blessing. Choose well.

So, if we understand and apply this truth to our lives, our attitudes and outlooks will be different. We then can help others who would fall in this area. When we encounter those who use their own minds to try to understand God’s plans, and end up frustrated and bitter, we can point them to the truth. We can stand with assurance that he is working for the best of all those involved and sits as a sovereign and loving God. We can move through life with confidence that God is God regardless of the circumstances that surround us. And our lives and words will reflect hope and faith to all those we come in contact with. In this way our lives will be used and the world will be influenced. And God will be glorifed in it all.

prayer

Father, we so often try to understand with our own minds. And we so often fail to see you and your purpose in the hard areas of our lives. Help us to exercise our faith and trust you in the hard times. Help us to see your sovereign hand in everything and recognize your plans. Then help us to turn to others and point them to you. May our faith please you and may we be rewarded by your hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.