His ways are not our ways

This chunk of Scripture right here is like gold to me, there is so much wisdom here. I think that we often need to be reminded of an obvious truth: that we are not God. This would seem like common sense to me, but I cannot tell you how many times I have heard myself and others try to understand the ways of our Lord from our own human perspective.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah‬ ‭55:8‭-‬9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is so comforting and reassuring to me to know that I don't have to understand everything about this life. No matter what, my finite brain is never going to understand the infinite matters of our incredible universe. We are incredibly intelligent beings, as we are created in God's image, but we are not God, and I am so thankful. I think it is extremely important to maintain this perspective as we go through the trials of life. No matter how much wisdom we gain in this world, there are just going to be some things we will never completely understand.

The Lord has a plan for everything. He has never lost a battle, and He never will. He has revealed himself to this world through His word, which to me is one of the most compelling cases for God's existence. The fact that His word is still actively working in our world, changing people's lives for the better is an amazing truth. The Bible is the most incredible book I have ever read. It has the power to change lives, if we let it.

We are a work in progress

As believers in Christ, I think it is a wise habit to always be checking our perspective. In these times we are living, although there has always been turmoil in the world since the beginning, it is a constant temptation to lose sight of the fact that God is in control of everything. When we get too close to the things of the world though, when we're too focused on them, we can lose hope fast. The same can be true for our own personal growth and maturity in our faith. When we screw up, (which we all do, for no one is without sin the Bible says) do we feel defeated and like we're useless to the Lord? Do we refuse to forgive ourselves despite having the forgiveness of Jesus through His blood? When I find myself in this position, I like to pause and reflect on what He has done in my life, and what I know to be true about God and His character, and to give thanks and praise to Him Knowing that "...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus," (Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬). Thank you God for not giving up on your people as quickly as we often are to give up on you and ourselves.