Tag: devotions

God’s Just Too Hard To Understand

“Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than heaven— what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol— what can you know?” Job 11:7-8

“I just don’t get God.”

I looked at the guy. I understood his struggle. But I also knew he was never going to understand until he gave up trying to figure it out.

None of us will.

One of the prophets stated the reason clearly: we don’t think like God.

And yet, the Apostle Paul tells us, in more than one of his letters, we have the mind of Christ.

Long ago I claimed Colossians 2:2 as my guiding verse: 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.

I think the key is tucked in the middle of that verse: the mystery of God.

Who doesn’t love a good mystery?

I have learned there are two kinds of people when it comes to mysteries: ones who try to figure out the “who done it” as quickly as they can; and those (like me) who focus on the story and let it unfold without having to figure it out.

Living in the unfolding takes trust. And I understand how difficult it can be to trust.

At some point in my spiritual journey I heard a quote and I wrote it down in the back of my Bible. I liked it so much that I moved it to the front–it was too good to be buried in the back:

WP mystery

Here’s something that might help you hang in there when life is confusing and God’s way of doing things is hard to grasp: I’ve read the end of the book–and we win. Hold on!

The old gospel song says it best: we’ll understand it better, by and by.

PRAYER: God of mystery thank you for not being a God of confusion. Thank you for teaching us that even though we don’t understand what you’re doing, you’re still active, interested, and working in our lives. Keep the life of Jesus and the mind of Jesus before us so we can see you better and trust you more. Amen.

Lenten Preview

WP Lent

It’s been a couple years since I wrote an entire devotional series for Lent. Lately, I have felt a gentle nudge to do so again.

As the nudge became a clearly undeniable push, I asked the Holy Mover what direction to take. I keep coming back to Resurrection morning and Mary’s encounter the unrecognizable Jesus. Jesus asks her, “Who are you looking for?” (John 20:15a)

In Advent I focus on being prepared, being ready for the coming of Jesus. Lent is a time for focus, but for me it is also about surrender, giving, and working to deepen my faith relationship. That fits so well with the question Jesus asked of Mary.

WP Looking for

Who am I looking for?

How am I looking? Am I satisfied with a glance? A nod in God’s direction?

In Proverbs we read: without vision the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18)

Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Ephesians 1:18)

WP Refuse to look

We cannot see what we don’t look for.

This Lenten season I want a vision. I don’t want to mistake Jesus for a gardener. I want to see Jesus all the way.

Will you journey with me? We’ll start on Wednesday morning.

WP Journey path

(Having difficulty adding pictures. I apologize for the initial absence of visual prompts…somehow seems ironically appropriate. Helps to read the instructions. Also a multi-level lesson learned. T)