As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.(Isaiah 55:9)

In his commentary on Isaiah 55:8-8, Edward J. Young said, “The implication is that just as the heavens are so high above the earth that by human standards their height cannot be measured, so also are God’s ways and thoughts so above those of man that they cannot be grasped by man in their fullness. In other words, the ways and thoughts of God are incomprehensible to man.” God’s ways, being the ways of infinite wisdom, simply cannot be comprehensible by our finite minds.

The apostle Paul states the same truth in his doxology at the end of Romans 11 when he exclaims in amazement, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!”(Romans 11:33)

God’s wisdom is fathomless, His decisions are unsearchable, His methods are mysterious and untraceable. No one has ever even understood His mind, let alone advised Him in the proper course of action. How futile and even arrogant for us to seek to determine what God is doing in a particular event or circumstance. We simple cannot search out the reasons behind His decisions or trace out the ways by which He brings those decisions to pass.

If we are to experience peace in our souls in times of adversity, we must come to the place where we truly believe that God’s ways are simply beyond us and stop asking Him why or even trying to determine it ourselves. This may seem like an intellectual “cop out”, a refusal to deal with the really tough issues of life. In fact, it is just the opposite. It is surrender to the truth about God and our circumstances as it is revealed to us by God Himself in His inspired Word.

Jerry Bridges

Throughout the centuries humanity has attempted to create gods that they could understand. They wanted to believe in some higher power but they needed this being to conform to human thought and standards. So the Greeks created gods with great power but with human traits of jealousy and striving for position and power. These gods indulged themselves in all the passions of humanity. They also had to be constantly appeased or their human subjects would be subject to their wrath. These gods were selfish despots that ruled by whim and self interest. They could be understood because they acted just like humans. The Canaanite gods were much the same. Baal was the god who when appeased blessed the harvest and the flocks and herd. Baal brought great prosperity to his followers. But like everything human Baal had some associates that had to be pleased as well. Molech and Astoroth were two of them. So in order to incur Baal’s blessing these two gods required the sacrifice of children on the iron. If we consider the religions of modern times in comparison to Christianity we would find a commonality among them. In each of them the approach to god is human originated. Certain acts and rituals and places are absolutely necessary to hopefully meet the qualifications granting entrance into heaven or some paradise. For example Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Buddhist are required to honor their ancestors. Norman’s must accept that Joseph Smith is the successor of Christ. Jehovah Witnesses believe there are only 144,000 that will rule and reign in the world to come and that they are compelled to witness. We could go on and on with examples. Suffice it to say that any of these religions are based on human perception and understanding.

Let’s visit the Christian faith briefly, for it is this faith that is far beyond human intellect. It holds these incomprehensible truths. First it teaches that God created everything that was created (see Colossians). It teaches that in the original creation everything was created good. Let me pause here and say this is the first thing beyond my understanding. I cannot conceive of a world where there is nothing but good especially as I see the world seemingly growing more evil even in my short lifetime. We read that God made humans and gave them a choice. My second place beyond my thinking. What an amazing God who would create a being and give that being the ability to choose their own way even if that way is contrary to the way of the creator. We are told that when that human(s) chose to disobey and stood under the punishment of death, this God provided a substitute in the form of His own Son. That simply blows my mind, that God would so love us that while we were adversaries toward Him, He would send His Son and through His death we are given life. Again I could go on and on about the incomprehensible and incomparable God whom we serve.

Our questions of why usually center around adversity. It is in adversity that we ask why God allows such things to occur. We often fail to stop and consider all that God has done in blessing us. Sometimes I think we take that for granted. So my question is this: How are we supposed to be given understanding of the why of adversity when we cannot even begin to understand the love and mercy of God that has redeemed us from eternal destruction? So I choose to believe what I don’t understand. I choose to believe in the God who called me out of darkness, who promised me forgiveness of sin by my simple confession. I choose to believe that some day He will carry me home with Him to live in an eternity where everything once again is good. I choose to live in the shadow of His love and to believe that He never allows anything in my life that He will not ultimately turn for good either in this life or that to come. I choose to be childlike and put my hand in His and walk this journey of life together trusting in His ways even when they are incomprehensible to my little mind. I choose to Rest In Peace knowing that He is the Sovereign Lord of the universe and that in due time He will make all things right. In His time He will judge evil and set nations in proper order and as Isaiah prophesied, “of His kingdom there will be no end.” I choose to focus on His presence rather than being consumed with all the media and the world is presenting. I am totally convinced that He alone has the solutions to all that’s taking place in the world so I bring my case, my requests and my need before Him and wait for Him to answer. This may seem naive to many and at a time in my life seemed so to me. But I’ve learned over time that we can really trust that God knows what He is doing and most of the time we have little to no effect on things anyway. I have just chosen to give up my frustrations and anxieties and anger over how things are in the world and to walk with expectant trust in the Lord for I have seen Him in the storm sometimes calming the storm around me and sometimes calming me in the storm. I confess there are a lot of things I don’t understand and may never, but one thing I know: we can always trust God for He is always for us. And that trust doesn’t require understanding, just childlike faith. So go ahead, let go trying to figure it all out and just say to yourself that you will choose trust over understanding. May the Grace of God give you the ability to do so and may the peace of God overwhelm you.