Living in the Mystery of God's Will

“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)

"You won't understand it—let it go."

That was the most memorable line from a favorite song of mine many years ago.

And it has rung true, loud and clear, as each year passes, as I continue on this journey with the Lord. 

Today, I learned of a friend who has cancer and is soon facing their day of departure. None of us know our final day on earth. Another friend of ours lost her significant other just a few weeks ago. Like me, he was only 55 years old. He woke up one day, and later had a massive stroke. Went into a deep coma, and was taken off life support several days later.

We live our normal life, day to day, enjoying life, or, far too often, merely going through the motions. No one ever expects to have an instant heart attack or stroke when they wake up one morning.

So live each day as it is your last.

I believe God allows us to suffer through life's tragedies and disappointments to constantly remind us that this earth is not where it's at. We are only passing through this world. It is not our home. We are aliens here.

Jesus left this fallen, sin-sick world to go and prepare an eternal dwelling for each of us, and that eternal dwelling place will be with Him.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

The longer I walk on this earth, day by day, it loses its pull on me. The temporal things of this life are passing away. And after fifty five years on this planet, it has become painfully and abundantly clear that the superficial things of earth do not bring any lasting peace, happiness or satisfaction.

Knowing beforehand that we will not be able to understand why bad things happen to us, why things don't turn out the way we had hoped, and that life on this fallen planet is extremely difficult and painful, Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled."

He knew that our hearts will be troubled at times. He knew that we would experience painful suffering, searing loss of loved ones, and disappointments in this life. So He pointed us to Him, and to our everlasting future with Him in a place so incredible, that our hearts cannot currently imagine all that it will be.

Heaven with Jesus is where it's at. In this life we have no continuing residence.

"For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." (Hebrews 13:14)

So as you feel the weight and sadness of failure, disappointment and loss in this difficult life, please remember that the short time we have here on earth is only temporary.

Treasure and love those who God has placed in your life. Make every moment count.

Love completely. Trust in God for all things, and in every situation, no matter how difficult. And choose to set your heart and your mind on the glorious things of eternity, and not on the things of this earth which is passing away.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth shall grow faintly dim. In the light of His glory and grace."

"Looking unto Jesus; the Author and Finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails