Anyone who has been a believer for any time at all will soon come to a point in life where they simply wonder why God has acted the way he has or allowed things to play out the way they did.  I suppose there is comfort in knowing that, "Why?" is one of the universal questions of the Christian life.  Luther says:

God leads and directs his people in mysterious ways.  In the Bible, we read, "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen" (Ps 77.19).  Christ himself told Peter, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand" (Jn 13.7).  Christ seems to be saying, "You want to see me and want me to do what seems good and right to you.  But I will act in a way that will make you think I'm a fool rather than God.  You will see my back, not my face.  You won't understand what I'm doing or why I'm doing it.  Then I'll be able to mold you and remold you the way I would like.  My methods may appear as foolish to you as if they were from the devil himself."

We need to learn how God guides his people as they grow and develop.  I too have often tried to dictate to our Lord God a certain way in which I expect him to run things.  I have often said, "O Lord, would you please do it this way and make it come out that way?"  But God did just the opposite, even though I said to myself, "This is a good suggestion that will bring honor to God and expand his kingdom."  Undoubtedly, God must have laughed at my so-called wisdom and said, "All right, I know that you are an intelligent, educated person, but I never needed a Peter, a Luther, or anyone else to teach, inform, rule, or guide me.  I am not a God who will allow himself to be taught or directed by others.  Rather, I am the one who leads, rules, and teaches people."

(from Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional / LW 7:103)

Oh, how often have I prayed in this way?!  "God, please make this happen in just this way..."  Why must I need reminding that my seeming intellect is foolishness in the sight of an omnipotent God?  There is some consolation that, just as God never needs me to enlighten him, so too he "never needed a Peter, a Luther, or anyone else."  At least if I'm getting a great lesson in humility, I can enjoy good company!

In all seriousness, when events play out exactly opposite of the way they think, why do I question God, his goodness, or his wisdom?  Should I not be reminded that even Job, who was "blameless and upright...who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1.1) did not receive an answer when he asked God, "Why?"  What should I, a much greater sinner, expect when asking the same question?  Should we not be reminded that God has said, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Is 55.9, ESV)?  There are times when I need to be reminded more personally that God has spoken these words to me, "So are my ways higher than T.C.'s ways and my thoughts than T.C.'s thoughts."  As much as anyone, I need to be reminded that those pieces of paper on the wall that the world puts so much faith in are really laughable in the wisdom and sight of God...

True wisdom comes not from education or the reading of many books (or blogs!) but from humbly walking with Christ Jesus our Lord.

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