A casual reading of these verses might lead us to believe that God wants us to be sure of the difference between the divine and humans. “My ways are higher than your ways” is a pretty strong delineation between God and us. However, I do not think God is making a show of his power. This whole passage is labeled “a hymn of joy and triumph.” Israel will be restored. We cannot purchase God’s grace, but he gives it freely. His covenant with Israel will be glorified. All good news here. The next few verses are a call to repentance: seek the Lord, let the wicked forsake their way, return to the Lord, and he abundantly pardons. Again, all good news.

The problem with us humans is we tend to be dissatisfied with all this good news, and we ask “why”? How can God do these things? Why would He want to after his children have been disobedient and abandoned Him?

There are no answers to our questions, and the next verses, 8 and 9, tell us we never will understand. My thoughts and ways are higher than your ways, He says.

Most human beings are naturally curious. We want to understand how things work. We want to understand why certain things occur. We want to understand what motivates certain individuals to behave a certain way. And we can, to a certain extent, using scientific methods. We have found explanations for things that puzzled human beings for hundreds of years. Knowledge can grow. We can learn new things.

Understanding, however, is different. There are things that are beyond human understanding. The miracles that Jesus performed are examples. How can Jesus walk on water, how can water become wine, how can the dead live again? Think Lazarus here. We simply cannot understand. So, we are left with faith: faith that God’s plan is better than our plan, faith that He loves and cares for us, faith that ultimately, we will come into His presence. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

I do not think I can stop being curious and wanting to learn new things, but I can accept the truth that I will never understand everything, and that, too, is part of God’s plan.

Heavenly Father, so many times our cry is a loud “WHY? Even in our pleading, we know that only You have the full picture for each of us. Let us be thankful for Your love and Your guidance, trusting that you will lead us where we should go.

Amen

This devotional was written and read by Pat Scruggs.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Often, this verse is used when things are challenging. It reminds us of God’s will and our inability to know all. It reminds us that even the challenges of war, death, and illness are part of God’s kingdom.

I do think these kinds of sentiments bring comfort in challenging times, but today, let us focus on being a tiny part of God’s creation. If we allow ourselves to contemplate that we are each a small creation inside of all of God’s creation, then we begin to see a bigger picture. I am not an ocean, but one drop in the ocean.

There have been innumerable seasons in the kingdom of God and innumerable purposes. I am one drop in that throughout time. Who am I to decide what happens to all the other drops in the waves I ride through life? If I am honest with myself, I do not control what happens to me. I only exist in the context of all the other drops in an ocean.

The scope of this is almost incomprehensible, so let us simplify it. If we look at a glass of water on the counter and each molecule of water represents a person, then what happens if we pour the water out? In unison, the molecules pour out bound to flow together. Do the drops of water fight with each other? Do some think to themselves, “If only I were ice, I could resist this dreadful pouring?” Do some pray to remain in the comfort of the glass,s fearing the unknown of the journey ahead? Do some sit in the glass contemplating all of the drops that have left them behind? As some of the drops evaporate, do others remain, becoming increasingly salty?

Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom written by King Solomon. It contemplates man’s inability to comprehend the complexities of life and find meaning without an understanding of God. Perhaps if we view ourselves as one tiny drop of water in an ocean, instead of kicking and screaming about what we want, we should ride the waves and see where God takes us.

Lord, may I follow the flow of your spirit, bringing your living water to those who thirst. May you pour out your spirit upon us so that we can do your will in your creation. May we fulfill your purpose even when it is too big for us to comprehend, Amen.

This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Friends, here is an important and timely question: where does your soul find rest? Who, or what, is your rock and salvation? Your fortress?

Rest seems to be a hot commodity right now. Sleep aids are estimated to be a 65 billion dollar market, and insomnia is being identified as a public health issue in America. I think it is fair to say that a sense of restlessness pervades our culture.

So how about you? Are you plagued by unrest, by restlessness? Or is your soul at rest?

The psalmist has a word for the weary. He understands what it is like to be assaulted and assailed from every direction, to feel shaken to the core, and to cry out for help and relief—for rest. And this psalm suggests that he also knows the temptation to seek a sense of security in the false gods of wealth and power. He cautions against that temptation, because these things are not soul-giving, and rest will not be found in them.

Rest is found in God. As disciples of Christ, we are called to make God our fortress, our rock and salvation, and thereby, our rest—not wealth or power, not material possessions, or governments, or Facebook friends who agree with us about everything. We may seek peace and rest from all of these things, but we will not find it. Our souls find rest in God. I don’t think that means we are promised physical comfort, or even physical protection. In fact, I think finding true rest means surrendering all of our fears to God, even our fears for our physical well-being. But we are offered rest for our souls when we lose our “selves” by seeking and surrendering to God.

So today, where are you seeking rest? And where might you find it?

God, our rock and salvation, our holy fortress, you desire to give us rest. May we give ourselves and all of our cares and fears to you, that our souls might find peace in your presence. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.