God’s Perspective

An incredible welcome at the island where seventeen would be baptized. 

Scripture:

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Observation:

The prophet is declaring his dependence upon our holy God. Humanity is to recognize their place when it comes to the very power of God. The ways in which we think and process what we are experiencing is far different from the way in which the LORD sees it. As we consider the distance between earth and the starry host of the universe, we look on and humble ourselves before the God whose thoughts are beyond our own understanding. 

Application:

Far too often in life there are circumstances which are beyond our understanding. We wish we knew and we try and tell God how things ought to be. Thankfully, God doesn’t always listen to us, and instead, continues to do what is best for us. 

Recently we had an interesting experience as we traveled by boat to an island that is just learning about Jesus. It was an amazing day as seventeen new believers were publicly baptized into the faith. The excitement of getting to know Jesus was evident on the faces of those who were being baptized. The last person was a young man who asked everyone to stop singing then publicly proclaimed: 

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

He then shouted his declaration, that he believed in Jesus Christ, made his way out into the water and was baptized into new life. It felt like a Cornelius moment, an experience where those who had not known were now coming to Christ. At the same time there were those standing in the shadows, those who worship the powers of evil, who were not pleased. 

As we began our return trip the waters around us began to swirl. They looked turbulent and troubled and waves continued to grow in size. Our missionary, who takes this journey every month, said he’d never seen anything like it and wondered whether the enemy was unpleased with the activity of the day. By the way, Mario and Irma are the real deal...fabulous missionaries!

The boat had to slow to nearly a crawl as the captain navigated the waters. A ninety-minute trip would ultimately take more than three hours, reaching shore just before sundown. Silence had enveloped the group for long periods, and likely much prayer ensued. As the entire drenched team climbed from the boat there was a realization that God’s ways were much higher than our ways. While we may have been praying for the waves to calm, we discovered that our captain was deftly using the waves, to surf them to shore. What we thought was troubling, he saw as empowering and enabling. It all had to do with perspective. 

God’s perspective on the waves of our lives is much different than what we see when we are riding in the boat. The one thing that the entire group testified to was a deep sense of peace as we rode the waves. I think that is what God is asking us all to do — to trust in the LORD in the most difficult of times. God’s ways are much higher than ours, and even the storms can be a blessing.

Prayer:

Lord, thanks for your incredible peace and gentle reminder of your presence. Amen.