Good morning: I think all of us at one time or another, and likely many more than just one time, have said, “I don’t understand why God…” It’s usually prompted by something like a natural disaster which sweeps away homes and leaves survivors traumatized. It might be something more personal: disappointment over a prayer not answered in the way you hoped, serious illness, loss of a job, the death of a loved one. We don’t understand. It doesn’t make sense to our way of thinking for a loving God to let this happen. Satan would like us to conclude that because we don’t understand, God must be in the wrong. He must not be all-powerful, wise, and loving. Otherwise, He would see things as we do and always do what we want Him to. “I don’t understand!” is then an accusation directed toward God. However, “I don’t understand” can also be an expression of humble faith. We don’t always understand God’s reasons for His actions in the direction of the world or for us as individuals and families. But faith doesn’t demand it or expect it. If we with our sinful reason could understand everything about God, what kind of God would He be? He would be no better than we are. St. Paul freely acknowledged that he couldn’t grasp everything about God and His ways. But rather than make it an accusation, he turned it into praise: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?...For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” (Rom. 11:33-36). The next time you find yourself saying, “I don’t understand why God…,” praise Him. Thank Him for His ways and thoughts which are so much higher than ours. Praise Him for His love. It is beyond our rational understanding that the holy God would love the unlovable even to the point of punishing His only begotten Son to save us. Since He did that for us, how can we doubt His loving purposes even in those things which we can’t understand. In all things He promises: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11). Yours in Christ, Pastor We are following our summer schedule, so one service at 9 a.m. No Sunday school or Bible class.
