Wisdom

I've found more and more where I become ensnared in my Christian walk. Where many people fall - understanding.

For some time, things seem to work out the way we understand. This doesn't mean everything works the way we want, but if something goes wrong, we can at least pretend to identify a logical explanation for why it happened the way it did. I've learned, however, that not everything in life will work out this orderly way. Things happen that just don't make any sense. This could be a tragedy, a miracle, or maybe just your daily routine not working out.

This is where I struggle with God. When those things happen that I just can't understand, I get thrown into the reality that I am not in control. I think we can fool ourselves into believing that we are putting out faith in Christ, especially when things are working out. It takes a lot to realize that we have been fooling ourselves. We never really trust God as much as we say we do. We are really just agreeing with God when he does what we think is right. When our own plan gets shaken up, that's when reality kicks in.

This being my big struggle, I found that the writer of Ecclesiastes shares it with me:

" 'I am determined to be wise' - but this was beyond me. Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound- who can discover it? So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly." (Ecc. 7:23-25)

The flaw in his and my thinking is pretty clear. In the beginning he admits that wisdom is beyond him. "Who can discover it?" And then he goes right back into the trap. Instead of looking at God, at his majesty and power, and saying I will trust in Him because he has all the wisdom I need, he turns his effort into understanding again!

Why can't I just say God is in control and that is all I need to know and be done with it? As soon as I let go of my plan, I start making a new one.

"No one can comprehend what does on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him." (Ecc. 8:17, 9:1)

It is not in our power to know what will happen to us in the future. Will God bless us with a life or riches or of hardship or of both? God's abundant life does not guarantee financial stability, happiness, and societal status. It does guarantee He will be with us though.

The ultimate display of faith is essentially, I don't understand and I don't care. God is in control and will lead me. I don't need to figure out where in order to stand where I am right now with confidence and obedience to His plan.

Just a little something I was thinking about last night...