GraceFox

Have you ever wrestled with God’s ways not making sense? Honestly, sometimes I shake my head at how He boggles human logic.

My last blog told the story of how God directed our family away from a lucrative position and lakefront home to a year-round Christian camp. My husband worked there as an intern for one year, during which time we received no income. When the internship ended, the director asked us to join fulltime staff and gave us the go-ahead to raise our own support. Our income, for our family of five, would depend on donors from that time forward.

Months passed. Our financial support team grew little by little; our anxiety grew by leaps and bounds. How will we pay our bills? we wondered. How can we afford dental care and orthodontics? Eyeglasses? Proper footwear for the kids? Ferry tickets? Insurance? Groceries? Gas?

While we fretted, God worked behind-the-scenes. One day Gene received an update about an investment he’d made while receiving an engineer’s salary. His eyes nearly popped when he read the statement. He ducked into his office for a moment, studied our financial records on the computer, and then returned to where I waited in the kitchen. “You’re never gonna believe this,” he said.

Turns out, we’d spent $12,000 from our savings during our internship with no income. Guess how much the investment gained during that period? Exactly $12,000. The revelation bolstered our confidence in God’s ways. I’ll bet He smiled as we gasped at His goodness.

Fifteen years later, we’re still living on faith support and watching God provide. It’s been quite a journey. We no longer try to decipher His strategy. We’re convinced He wants us to trust Him rather than a particular methodology.

Abraham and Sarah also wrestled with God’s ways. Abraham laughed in disbelief when God promised him a son through Sarah. He asked, “How could I become a father at the age of 100? And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” (Genesis 17:17,18) And Sarah? She laughed silently to herself when told she’d bear a son within a year. She asked, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” (Gen. 18:12)

God answered their doubts with His own questions: “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?” Then came the clincher: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Gen. 18:14)

The outcome to Abraham and Sarah’s story answers the latter question with a resounding no. Our family’s history does the same. My journey has taught me that God’s methods defy human understanding. Nothing stands in His way when He wants to accomplish a specific purpose or fulfill a promise. Nothing.

Perhaps you sense God asking you to trust Him for something specific, something big today, but fear holds you hostage. My word to you is this: Surrender. Don’t try to decipher God’s ways before saying yes. Human logic is short-sighted. Believe that nothing is too hard for the Lord, do what He’s asked, and then watch out! He’ll boggle your mind.  

 Any insights you’d like to share?