“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways     and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

When I was a teenager, I wanted to figure out God. I thought that if I worked hard enough and was completely logical, then everything about God would ultimately make sense. In retrospect, I think my desire to know God truly was laudable, but my expectations were naïve. I just didn’t take into considerations my own limitations as a human being and God’s unlimited nature.

Over time, I have come to realize that, although there are many things we can know about God because he has revealed them to us, our understanding has limits. I now accept the Lord’s own statement in Isaiah that “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

God’s ways are often mysterious, even frustrating. When he allows the innocent to suffer, when he fails to act in ways that would seem to bring him glory, and when he seems to say “No” to our fervent prayers, we struggle to accept God’s inscrutability. Yet, the greatest mystery of God’s nature leads us, not to exasperation, but to exaltation. I’m talking about the wonder of God’s grace, his limitless mercy, unfathomable love. The more we reflect upon the mind-blowing goodness of God, the more we’ll echo the words of Paul in Romans 11:33: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” For Paul, and for us, the mystery of God’s grace leads to astonished praise.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you feel when you can’t figure out God? What about God do you find hardest to understand? When have you felt overwhelmed by the wonder of God’s grace?

PRAYER: Almighty God, first of all, I want to thank you for making yourself known to me. Your revelation, in history, in Scripture, in Jesus Christ, and in my own heart is a priceless gift. How blessed I am to know you, to serve, and to love you!

Yet I know accept the limitations of my knowledge. There is so much about you that I will never understand, at least not this side of Heaven. Your ways are higher than mine, so much higher! As you know, Lord, sometimes this is distressing to me, especially when it seems like your love and justice are taking a nap. Help me to trust you, even when your ways are frustratingly different from what I would expect.

The most amazing thing about you, Lord, the most mysterious to me, is your love. Sure, I can say that you love me. But every now and then I am blown away by the depth of your love. The Creator of the universe loves me! What a wonder! Hallelujah! Amen.