Ways and Thoughts
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.
On Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants pitched a perfect game. It was the 22nd time it happened in the entire history of baseball and the first time for a Giants pitcher in their 130 year history. At that point in their history, the Giants had played just under 20,000 games. This shows just how rare of an event this was. As a fan of the Giants, I remember the thrill of watching each moment as he attempted to reach perfection. As fans we are amazed by the pursuit of perfection. It is as if something deep within us desires a perfection that is rarely attained even for a moment in time.
Our desire for perfection is really a longing for the only one who is truly perfect. Only God is perfect. He is holy which means He is worthy of complete devotion because He is perfect in goodness and righteousness. He is separated from sin and all evil. In Isaiah 55:8-9, we are reminded that God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. In the month following my son’s accident I wrote about God’s ways and my ways as I continued to try to comprehend all that had happened.
1.23.19
Just because I don’t understand it doesn’t mean that God wasn’t moving. My faith was tested as I stood alone on that cold snow covered ground trying to make sense of the moment. I continue to pray for understanding but if the understanding doesn’t come on this side of Heaven, I pray for the peace that surpasses understanding. (Philippians 4:4-7)
Sometimes we have to come to peace with not understanding, Suffering is a sign that we are not home yet. That suffering began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were deceived into trying to seek their own understanding rather than trusting in the perfect God that created them. Their desire for wisdom and understanding brought suffering into our world. Now our response to that suffering is often wanting understanding for ourselves. God is not required to answer our questions but instead we are required to trust in Him because his answers are perfect.
Whether it is a perfect game, an undefeated season, or even what seems like a perfect sunset, take a moment and let it sink in. When you find yourself in awe of what seems like perfection in this broken world, remember that it is only an echo of the desire your heart truly seeks. Seek the One who is truly perfect even when it doesn’t make sense. One day it will all make sense because His ways are higher than our ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, it may require walking through the gates of Heaven to understand our darkest moments from the heavenly perspective of a God that loves us perfectly.
