God understands it all

You don't have to understand everything in your life, because your Lord of wisdom and grace understands it all.

It is a paradox that many of us don’t handle well. We were created by God to be ra­tional human beings and we carry around with us a desire to know and understand, but we must not forget that we will never experience inner peace simply because all our questions have been answered. Biblical faith is not irrational, but it takes us beyond our ability to reason.

As believers in our identity as God’s image-bearers and the truthfulness of His Word, we do recognize that it is important to study to learn, to examine, to evaluate, and to know. But we are not rationalists. We do not trust our reason more than we trust God. We do not reject what God says is true when it doesn’t make sense to us, and we know that God’s secret will leaves us with mysteries in our lives; mysteries that, even with the best of our theology, we won’t be able to solve. Biblical literacy does not dispel all confusion and mystery from your life because while God reveals His will for you in the Bible, He does not reveal all the things He will do in your life for your good and His glory. God surprises you.

So you ask, “Where is peace to be found?” This question is answered clearly and powerfully in Isaiah 26:

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

This passage tells us where peace is to be found. It is never found in trying to figure out the secret will of God. It’s not to be found in personal planning or attempts to control the circumstances and people in your life. Peace is found in trusting the person who controls all the things that you don’t understand and who knows no mystery because He has planned it all.

How do you experience this remarkable peace—the kind of peace that doesn’t fade away when disappointments come, when people are difficult, or when circumstances are hard? You experience it by keeping your mind stayed on the Lord. The more you meditate on His glory, His power, His wisdom, His grace, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His patience, His zeal to re­deem, and His commitment to His eternal promises to you, the more you can deal with mystery in your life. Why? Because you know the One behind the mystery is gloriously good, worthy not only of your trust but also the worship of your heart.

It really is true that peace in times of trouble is not found in figuring out your life, but in worship of the One who has everything figured out already.

P.D.T.