Acts chapter 2 verses 24-25 (NIV)
“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
Isaiah Chapter 55 verses 8-9 (NIV)
” 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.”
If ever we need reminding that God’s plans and ways are not our plans and ways, we just need to consider these verses in the book of Acts.
Everything that happened to Jesus was foreknown by God and part of His deliberate plan. For what? Our salvation and reconciliation to Himself! That’s truly amazing. Yet too often when things are not going the way we hoped, we think or say “Why, Lord?”, when we should be trusting that God knows exactly what is going on, and will work all things together for our good and His glory.
As I read these verses in Acts, I feel very ashamed of how my attitude has sometimes been in times of hardship because I am reminded that in the midst of all His suffering, Jesus prayed, “Not my will by Thine be done.”
So let’s not be quick to get anxious or worried. Let’s hold on to the fact that in every circumstance, God is with us by His Holy Spirit, and His plans for our lives have not gone awry, even if our plans have.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for this powerful reminder today that Your plans are higher than mine. Forgive me for the times when lack of faith clouds my vision. Thank You that You know exactly what’s going on in my life and will work all things out for Your glory. AMEN.