As humans, we ponder mysteries using our limited human intellect and personal sense of what is right and fair. But, is our understanding of right and fairness the same as God’s? It turns out that we aren’t on the same playing field as God. 

The prophet Isaiah makes that clear when he shares God’s declaration on the matter. “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.”

Well, that’s pretty clear. God does not think like us? We may think that God should answer every prayer about healing with healing and about protecting from mortal harm with absolute protection. Your heart yearns for this. But the Bible and our personal life experiences testify that he is selective in answering prayers. 

Dear friend, I’m reminded that you and I are finite beings, and God is an infinite being. The Bible tells us that God is omniscient. That means his knowledge is unlimited. He knows everything that can be known. The Bible tells us, for example, that he knows what is in every person’s heart, he knows how many hairs are on your head, and when even a sparrow falls from the sky.

So, what are you to do with the pain you are feeling, partly due to wondering why your loved one wasn’t healed or protected from death? The best I can share with you are the following facts. We know that God hears our prayers. We know his answers come from love and not from evil or fear. We know his answers are also based on his unfathomable wisdom. 

And, as Christians, we know that our future is to live with him forever after we die. If your loved one knows God, and is reconciled with him, you can also know that their spirit is safe and secure in his presence. In short, our faith and trust in God and our knowledge of God’s character and grace may not answer every question nor solve every mystery – but when it comes down to it, his love and grace are sufficient. Imagine life right now without those assurances.

Take a moment today to reflect on your relationship with God, recall when he has answered your prayers in ways that you didn’t expect, and consider how some things turned out when he didn’t seem to answer your prayer. That exercise may be illuminating for you.

Remember you can download and print out the Episode Notes including the key points and any scriptural references in this episode.