Isaiah 55:8-9

"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."

It’s hard not to know what’s coming next. It’s hard to grapple and make sense when a well-executed plan doesn’t work out the way you wanted. I remember a young couple I ministered to years ago needed to move. Their young child had a variety of health challenges that required her to be near a major medical center. They looked into opportunities to move and before you know it, something big opened up. The couple had been praying for a job opportunity and the opportunity was there.

The guy’s company was opening a new office in a city they were able to move to and they presented him with the opportunity to be a general manager. The couple chatted about it, prayed a lot, consulted some trusted friends, and then made the decision. They moved.

However, things changed shortly after they moved. The company realized they had overextended themselves and pretty soon this new office needed to shut down. What now? The young family thought everything was falling into place and that God opened up this opportunity. Then it was gone.

The passage above from Isaiah 55 became a source of great comfort for that family and I pray it does for you, too. We all can relate to times we thought we were making good, wise decisions. We had the best intentions, put everything in God’s hands, but the plan didn’t work out.

Those are times we all can find comfort in God’s words through Isaiah. God’s ways and thoughts are not ours, but they are also infinitely higher than ours. And that means they are better than ours.

Why did this or that happen? Why did that opportunity not work out? Why did the plan change without warning? We can find comfort in the simple truth, God’s plans and thoughts are higher and better than ours.

The reason we can trust that simply comes down to the reality of who our God is. He is our Savior. He loves us with an everlasting love. He always has our eternal good in mind and what is best for us in his heart. We can trust his thoughts and plans in our life because of what he did for us when he sent his Son to save us. God’s plans are infinitely better than ours. His thoughts are infinitely greater and better than ours.

Just so you know, things turned out even better for that young couple. They found a better job and their daughter received amazing medical care. The same will be true for us. God’s plan is better. Trust in him, his character, his love, and his purpose for you.

Lord, thank you that Your ways are higher than mine. When I cannot see the path or understand the purpose, help me to trust Your character. I surrender my plans to You, knowing Your thoughts toward me are filled with love and goodness. Amen.

Pastor Jeremy Belter

Want more for your Monday? Click here for Pastor's sermon from yesterday: "Peter: Both Disciple & Denier"​