When we Wonder what God is Doing

 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” -2 Corinthians 4:8.

Every genuine Christian will eventually come to a time when life just doesn't make sense; a time when even after we've followed God as closely as we know how, things fall apart-and we end up questioning almost everything.

At times like these it's good to remember 2 things, the first being that God's ways are beyond our sight and understanding (Isaiah 55:8,9), and the second is that we are far from alone in such experiences; many have struggled in like situations.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For 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.

“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” -2 Corinthians 5:7.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” -I Corinthians 10:13.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” -I Peter 5:8,9.

Moses had received God's promise of deliverance for Israel, yet after he had confronted Pharaoh, their burdens multiplied (Exodus 5). David had been anointed to be king, but even after defeating the feared Goliath, the present King Saul hunted him as an enemy (2 Samuel 19:1). And Job really didn't understand his suffering, for he was serving God faithfully and flawlessly, as the scripture records (Job 1:1).

But just think how Jesus' disciples must have felt when He was being arrested, beaten, and condemned; we have the full story laid out for us, but they were living it. Jesus had been trying to tell them ahead of time what would happen, but it was beyond them;

“For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.” -Mark 9:31,32.

Put yourself in the disciples' place for a few moments; it's true that Jesus told them of His coming suffering in advance, but how could He literally mean it? They had walked with the Son of God, the creator, for 3 and a half years; He healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead, calmed storms, and multiplied food-how could He be stopped, let alone treated so despitefully? And yes, He sometimes used parables that had hidden meanings, so how could they be sure of what was meant?

So to have their Messiah taken away in the fashion they saw it must have been devastating! Had they wasted the past few years of their lives? Those must have been a loooonnng 3 days and nights for them before the resurrection.

Brethren, all of this shows that we've got to hang in there. We must wait for God to help us;

“The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:24-26.

What is it, then, that we are waiting for? We may be waiting for the actual answer to the petition we've made, or for a sign of the direction we should take, or a better understanding of our circumstances. God will always give us the understanding that we need, but it might not be as much as we want. In the end, we have to trust Him in faith because of His character, and the promises He has made through the Bible. After all, if He gave us His only begotten Son to be the atonement for our sins, we know that He has our best interests in mind. Wait on the Lord, for He is faithful.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” -Romans 8:31,32.

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” -Psalm 27:13,14.