Series Introduction

There is so much about God that we find hard to fathom — his timing, his ways, his plans, in Christ. Sometimes, we feel like we understand so little! And then, of course, we quietly remember that he is God, and we are not. His ways are above ours. His thoughts are above our thoughts. He knows all and he sees all. His timing is perfect, even when we can’t see it. Over the last five years, in talking with 300 people about their faith journeys, I have heard this theme, repeatedly. All 300 people acknowledged their questions and fears and struggles, within their deep trust in Jesus. They knew, at an unshakeable level, that God was still God. As they shared their stories and favourite Bible verses with me, their groanings and insights resonated with me. I’d love to share some of their stories with you, as an encouragement over the next two weeks.

Reflection:

It’s the reminder we all need. God’s ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We cannot comprehend them, nor can we anticipate them, but we hold out our hands and trust in God’s character. He has heard our cries and our pleading. He hasn’t gone to sleep or become distracted. He is listening. Even when our struggles seem most severe, and our cries wordless, he is still God.

I remember when I was living in Nepal, homeschooling our three sons on a Himalayan ridge, within a civil war and a suffering community, without electricity, I cried out regularly. I groaned for all of us. I didn’t know what to pray. But I held onto a sacred truth: even in my weakness, God works tenderly, according to his purposes. He gently nourishes our souls with his word, like a thousand drops of rain on dry, cracked earth. May that be the case today for each of us. May God bring about the transformation we need, budding and seeding beyond what we can imagine.

Prayer:

Lord, I come to you, in submission and trust today. I thank you that your ways and thoughts are higher than mine… and I ask for your Spirit to shape me in new ways.