Far Beyond

The bees buzzing about in gardens and pastures this summer are worth noting. They’re truly amazing creatures playing a vital role on farms and in our food supply. As incredible as they are, though, bees will never appreciate poetry, build skyscrapers, or have political leanings. They lack the cognitive ability to do so. Human ways are higher than the ways of bees. Likewise, God’s ways are far beyond human ways. Let’s start out today’s time with a prayer.

Lord, help me to understand that sometimes I simply cannot comprehend Your ways. Rather than rely on my limited insight and knowledge in addressing the challenges I am facing, help me to trust You, Lord, to guide me with Your Holy Spirit. Fill me with Your peace, wisdom, and patience to endure, think through, and navigate the inevitable hardships of this life knowing Your ways are higher than mine. Give me the wisdom to give my all to You. Amen.

Isaiah 55:8-11 (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

     â€œAnd my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

     so my ways are higher than your ways

     and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 The rain and snow come down from the heavens

     and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow,

     producing seed for the farmer
 â€¨    and bread for the hungry.

11 It is the same with my word.

     I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to,

     and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

Everyone goes through challenging seasons of life. It is inevitable in this world. I find myself entrenched in an extended season of ongoing challenges, frustrations, and obstacles beyond my control. I watch the seasons of challenge come and go for others, while mine remains, and will for years to come. All the while, I am focused on doing the best I can within the confines of the situation. Sometimes, though, I get frustrated and start to feel overwhelmed by the ever-changing dynamics of my challenges. Each time I get overwhelmed, I realize it is because I am relying on my ways and not trusting God’s ways of handling my concerns. Do you have similar challenges in your life that are beyond your abilities to fix? What is your immediate response when facing these challenges?

Sometimes in my stubborn desire to be self-reliant, I refuse to go to God with the specific challenge at hand…big mistake, every time. When I double-down on self-help in the place of God’s help, the tough spot I’m in just gets tougher. Without the light of God, it can get very dark in a hurry. Are there parts of your life you try to hold back from giving to God? What happens when you let God take control of the situation?

God wants all of us, completely, so He can use the bad for good and turn the dark to light. Sometimes God’s ways in handling our challenges produce unexpected blessings we can clearly see, but His way also produces fruit we cannot see or understand. Bees do not comprehend the role they play in human agriculture any more than we can understand the magnitude of the plans God has for and through our lives, far beyond the scope of our understanding. It is merely our job to trust and set to the good work God has prepared for us.

Lord, help me see how Your grace has been woven through my life.

Father, grant me the patience to let You handle my challenges in Your way and Your time and help me to learn what You would have me learn from these experiences.

I sincerely hope you rejoice in this day crafted for you by our Lord.