We all struggle with questions for God about why things happen the way they do. I’m sure you’ve heard, or even thought “How can a good God let so many bad things happen?” or “If God is really in control, why all the tragedy?”. There is so much that doesn’t make sense to us, and I’m sure if you have found our site because you have lost someone you love, these questions may be nagging at you. Personally, my biggest question is “Why?” just simply, “Why?”. I can’t even begin to pretend that I understand God’s ways, and thankfully He doesn’t expect me to.
We’re told in Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. It’s so easy to get bogged down and dragged into this world and to feel overwhelmed or sorry for myself, to think about how I think things “should be”. This is not what God wants, we need to trust and have faith that He is in control and that His ways are perfect.
God often uses events, sermons, songs, books, people, etc… to speak to us. This week the “theme” has been Trust Me, My ways are so much better than yours. Even though we don’t always understand God’s ways or why things happen the way they do, we do know that God is faithful and his love and mercy are so evident to us. There have been many times that God has spoken to us through events and through others where Bill and I have stopped what we are doing and just looked at each other in amazement. This has happened to us several times this week, including a few times Sunday morning at church. The sermon Sunday was from Blair Abbott, Executive Pastor at Grace Church and was titled “Requirements” and spoke to what God requires of us as stated in Micah 6:8 to Act Justly, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly. The focus of the sermon was on God’s Ways, which are so much higher and better than our ways, and even though we don’t always understand them, His ways are perfect and even as the world changes… He never does.
A video clip from Francis Chan was shown that hits right to the heart of all of this. Please take a couple of minutes to watch this thought provoking video httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnrJVTSYLr8.
Outside of this great sermon that spoke right to us, we had three other instances that morning showing us that God is no doubt in control, is always with us and that there’s a plan.
We were reminded again yesterday morning while reading our daily devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young that God’s ways are not always understood, but are always good. She writes…. “TASTE AND SEE THAT I AM GOOD. This command contains an invitation to experience My living Presence. It also contains a promise. The more you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. My ways are mysterious, even to those who know Me intimately. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways and thoughts higher than your ways and thoughts. Do not try to fathom My ways. Instead, spend time enjoying Me and experiencing My goodness.”
Things are not always going to go the way we want them to, or the way that we think makes the most sense. We don’t know the reasons, and we don’t understand them yet…but we know God is in control and we will follow where He leads. In this life we are going to suffer and hurt, but we will also experience joy and happiness…but none of this will compare to what awaits us one day. I can’t wait until the day we see Jesus and for the first time experience everything that God has planned for us. There will be a day when we will see how all of this fits together, and we will eternally experience God’s goodness and His full glory!
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Below is a link to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Our God Is In Control”. It’s off of his “Beauty Will Rise” album which was written after the tragic death of his beautiful 5 year old daughter a few years ago. Every song on this album is amazing.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoAYb8YmCwQ
In Him,
Amy
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