I Do Not Understand

 

I do not understand why Jesus had to come to earth to die that I might have life. Why couldn’t God have found an easier way to give us salvation? I do not understand why God’s children on earth suffer pain, and persecution. I cannot understand why I must constantly battle with Satan and his helpers. I have often said things like "why did God allow this" or "if God loves me why did such and such happen?" Job 42:3 gives Job’s answer: "Therefore I have rashly uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

You’ve no doubt seen the quote: "We make plans and Life happens." And here is another one that I just recently heard: "If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans." Proverbs 16:9 states "A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure." And in Proverbs 20:24: "Man’s steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way?" We have no idea what the future holds for us, and God does, so why not trust Him, instead of telling Him we don’t understand so we’d rather do it ourselves.

Here is what God’s Word tells us about understanding the ways of God from Isaiah 55:8,9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." "As the heavens are higher than the earth"... Wow! That is a big spread. So what makes me think I can know what God’s reasons are? In Psalm 139:6 it says "Your infinite knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high above me. I cannot reach it."

I may not understand the workings of the Lord, but this one thing I do know: "our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." 2 Cor. 4:17, 18

We may not understand nor know

Just how the giant oak-trees throw

Their spreading branches wide,

Nor how upon the mountain-side

The dainty wild-flowers grow.

 

We may not understand nor see

Into the depth and mystery

Of suffering and tears;

Yet, through the stress of patient years

The flowers of sympathy

 

Spring up and scatter everywhere

Their perfume on the fragrant air--

But lo! the seed must die,

If it would bloom and multiply

And ripened fruitage bear.

                              ---Thomas Kimber



My Prayer: No, Lord, I do not understand why You had to suffer and die that I might have life; or why we suffer in this life. You could have put a hedge around all Your children, but we would then become weak; we would not have learned how to use Your armor. You say in I Peter 4:13 that our suffering is working for us and will make us rejoice even more when we see Your glory. David said that before he was afflicted, he went astray. I know that all that comes my way is allowed for my good, and I pray I will not waste the trials You allow for me. I also know that nothing touches me that has not gone through You first. You have a design for me, and though I may not understand it, You will use it for my good. You said in John 13:7 "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Thank you Lord for all You do for me, even if I do not understand it now. Amen

YESTERDAY IS GONE!

I have been pondering on a helpful New Year thought to share that will help get us off to a right start for 2013. As I read from ‘Springs in the Valley’ this morning, the words of Bob Burdette seemed to be my answer. The thoughts he gave aren’t new, but the way he puts it made it catchy and so understandable.

He says that there are two days each week during which he never worries—two carefree days to be free of fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday. Yesterday, with its cares and fears and mistakes, is gone, gone forever! All that was done yesterday is in the hands of the Mighty Lord. It is God’s!

The other day is tomorrow. All the fears, burdens and failures are beyond me to do anything about. It is a day of God’s. Just as the Mighty Lord held yesterday, so He holds tomorrow. That day is God’s day!

So I have one day left for me in each week—Today. We only carry the burdens, or face temptations one day, so don’t add what is gone or hasn’t come yet. These are God’s days, leave them with Him. We only have to face one day at a time, and our Mighty Lord walks with us each step of the way.

"Tomorrow is God’s secret—but today is yours to live!"

Paul says in Phil. 3:13: "But one thing I do (it is my one aspiration); forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on…"

My Prayer:
Lord, my past, my yesterdays are under the blood. Paul tells us to forget those things that are behind. He further says to ‘press forward’ knowing that my tomorrows are in Your hands. Today is my gift from You, my "Present" from You. Each new day as it becomes my ‘present’ I commit it to You to lead and guide, step by step, just one day at a time.
Amen