God’s Way is Perfect, Even When Nonsensical
God’s Way is Perfect, Even When Nonsensical
Daily Reflection: Psalm 85:8-9 — 12/7/2023
I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85:8-9
God’s ways and his word are perfect. They are truth, they are light, they are peace; they are those things and they lead to those things. But they don’t always make sense to us; when this happens it presents us an opportunity for growth.
Many of us miss out on the growth because we don’t realize that what seems to us as nonsensical, is not because God is impractical, but our ideas of practicality are nonsensical and faith-less.
As Eugene Peterson observed,
We have great enthusiasm for the practical in our society, but much confusion and no little bit of ignorance surround what is in fact practical. In the confusion and ignorance great crowds of people live extremely impractical lives and engage in hopelessly impractical acts, all the while supposing themselves to be hardheaded, no-nonsense, practical people.
Therefore, in our lives with God we must set worldly ideas of practicality aside and, like the psalmist, decide at the outset, “I will listen to what God the Lord says…”
Yes! When it doesn’t make sense to us. When it seems to go against everything we hold dear. Because God’s word comes from his illimitable stores of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He sees around the corner, where we can’t even see a corner.
An old preacher often told a story of a mountain climber that got caught in a terrible winter storm. Dangling from a rope and unable to see more that 3 feet in any direction, he cried out to God, “save me!”
A small voice gently instructed him, “cut the rope.”
The man resisted the thought, refusing to give into despair, but the voice calmly persisted, “cut the rope and you’ll be saved.”
He did not cut the rope. A few weeks later they found his frozen body dangling 3 feet above the ground.
Part of our discipleship training is in learning to discern the voice of God, for the purpose of doing what he says. Therein is life and salvation.
Heavenly Father, open our ears to hear your voice, give us understanding hearts, and fill us with bold love to obey, especially when it doesn’t make sense to us. In Jesus name.
