The truth is, we only know a teeny, tiny fraction of the whole story God is writing in our lives, but God knows the story from beginning to end. The often quoted verse from Isaiah 55:8 is true—”My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine”—but when it comes down to it, I struggle to believe it. I still think I know what’s best for me. And my stubborn heart often questions God’s ways.
When God finally spoke to Job and rebuked him for his ignorance, He didn’t ever explain to Job why He had allowed such terrible suffering to enter his life. Instead, He listed the dozens and dozens of reasons why He is qualified to be the all-wise, all-knowing God and Job is not. The list is humbling to put it mildly. It’s a great reminder of how very small we are and how very great God is.
A few months ago, my mom gave me a wooden plaque with an Elisabeth Elliot quote on it. I have it hanging in my bedroom. It says, “My plea is let me be a woman, holy through and through, asking for nothing but what God wants to give me, receiving with both hands and with all my heart whatever that is.” I want this attitude in suffering—a trusting heart, not a proud heart that ignorantly questions God’s wisdom.
The heart that trusts in God doesn’t ask for explanations or go over every possible reason why God would allow suffering. It doesn’t try to understand the ways of an infinite, wise, and loving God. Instead, as Elisabeth Elliot says, it receives with open hands whatever God decides to give, knowing it’s given in love. The trusting heart doesn’t assume suffering is punishment or arbitrariness on God’s part; instead, it knows that a loving Father has promised to work even the hardest circumstances out for good, so it hopes against hope because of who God is.
If today you’re struggling to understand how the terrible suffering you’re enduring could possibly be a part of God’s good plan for you, lay down your need to understand God’s ways. Then choose to receive whatever He has allowed into your life with open hands and a heart that trusts Him, and leave the rest to Him. He is able, and He is in control.
***
This post originally appeared at Believing at Midnight, published with permission.
