Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down!
How the mountains would quake in your presence!
As fire causes wood to burn
and water to boil,
your coming would make the nations tremble.
Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!
–Isaiah 64:1-2
Most of us (including the people of the Bible) have questioned God’s ways. There are times when He seems silent, uninterested, and detached from His creation (and even His children). Sometimes we just don’t understand Him.
Isaiah was struggling with this as he saw what was happening to God’s people. He realized that they deserved judgment, yet He wanted a different form of divine intervention. Why can’t God just come down and give everyone a good scolding (complete with mountain-moving earthquakes)? Can’t He do an encore of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven, or the walls of Jericho?* Surely that would teach everyone a lesson!
I wish I could tell you that this issue goes away with spiritual growth. It doesn’t. I have been a Christian for over twenty years, and I still don’t always understand God. Hopefully my faith and understanding have increased, but my ways are still not always His ways.
You may wonder why God allows evil people to prosper. You may wonder why people starve to death. I have my own questions: Why won’t God send revival to my campus? Why won’t He just do something to “shake things up” and capture everyone’s attention?
“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
The answer is easy to hear, but not quite as easy to accept: He’s God; I’m not. His ways are not my ways.
God doesn’t require that we always understand Him. He simply asks us to trust Him, even when we don’t understand.
*For those of you who are not as familiar with the Bible, these miracles are recorded in the book of Exodus and Joshua.
i like ur articles
Thanks for reading!
Kuya, Thank you so much for this article. My mind is so jumbled nowadays and I have a lot of questions. Your article is a big help to get things in perspective again.
Now I am just thankful for the difficult times ‘coz it gives me the opportunity to grow as a Christian, And I am thankful that I don’t have the answers to all my questions, ‘coz it is actually a test of my trust in God. I will always remember that God’s ways are higher than my ways.
i can relate with that…when my boyfriend died a year ago,as expectedly i was devastated…after crying when i received bad news,same day i went to church then the priest approach me and you know what ..he said “GOD’S way is not your way.. the more i cried because i realized begun to accept that my boyfriend was not the one for me…
as I often read that my ways is not the ways of God I told myself am really not perfect…
kuya kevin thanks for the article…it made me think again…
ive been asking God something now for 1 year and more but nothing seems to be happening. i know God works in mysterious ways. i just hope He answers my prayer. what im asking for isnt bad in fact it should help get closer to Him and to my parish but ive been waiting for so long now. my high school years are already up!
thanks for being faithful to GOD’s majesty thru all those 20 years and for eternity! i agree that it’s not a matter of the degree of knowing HIM but on the degree of trusting HIM which we can’t ignore the fact that HIS HOLY SPIRIT do sustain our inward feeling of being at peace with His majesty, eventhough this earthly story is individually short yet it is full of varied influences which their consequences either leads to a roller coaster ride or a walk in the seashore….thanks for being around God bless ur ministry!
There was a time when I asked God “Why this is happening to me?” I dont understand and I’m so confused. It hurts so much but I’ve learned to trust God I submitted myself to Him and I read my Bible more. I seek God and I found Him. He gave me strength to endure this trial. After a few days, I have peace of mind. The pain is gone thanks to God! I asked God to give me wisdom so I would know what is the best thing to do. I’ve realized my mistakes. I made a very unwise decision. I now understand why it all happen to prevent me from commiting more dangerous mistakes. God protected me because He loves me so much.
After this trial, I feel more closer to God. He is alive.
Thanks Kuya Kevin! God used you to help me!
hey brother in Christ. Indeed God has used you to remind me that HIS ways aren’t mine. Actually, I also have the same question for God (why theres no revival in my campus). hehehe.
I know that you like praying.. Do me a favor. Kindly pray for my campus (UIC @ davao city), that God wud send more harvesters in the field.
Ako po pla si David .. salamat kuya.
God BLEss u always!