Let me be honest with you. I don’t understand. A lot.

In my Old Testament Bible readings, I see the way the children of Israel watch God do amazing, miraculous things…and then turn around and complain…or make idols to worship instead of the God who had delivered them and provided for them. I don’t understand.

I read Peter saying he would never deny Jesus…would even die first…then within hours he denies the Lord three times…just as Jesus predicted. I don’t understand.

In our modern world, I see good friends…healthy friends who have served their Lord Jesus for decades…contract the Covid virus and within days are dead, while others seem to slide through the virus with little or no symptoms. I don’t understand.

Judy and I have had our share of troubles over this past year. Her four hip replacement surgeries in eight weeks due to complications, mild cases (thankfully) of the Covid infection, the flooding of our home from burst water pipes after record-breaking cold temperatures.

I don’t understand.

But I guess I am in somewhat good company. David often questioned God as to why the enemy seemed to have the upper hand. Or why God didn’t seem to answer.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Psalm 22:1-2 NLT

David could have added… “I don’t understand.”

And the prophet Habakkuk also struggled to understand why things were happening in his culture, why the enemy seemed to be winning all the battles.

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds?

Habakkuk 1: 2-3 NLT

Habakkuk goes on and on with his complaint. He also could easily have added, “I don’t understand.”

But here is a bulletin:

God doesn’t owe us any explanation.

He has often said, “My ways are not your ways.” And He has reminded us that He is a Sovereign God. He can bless whomever He wants to bless and curse whomever He wants to curse. He is God Almighty over all.

So… what do we do? Just hunker down and endure? Not exactly.

We should follow the example of David and Habakkuk, among others. Later in Psalm 22 David acknowledges the holiness of the Lord and follows with this direction for his own life.

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord…. Honor Him…Show him reverence…

Psalm 22: 22-23, 25 NLT

And one of the most beautiful canticles of praise in the whole Bible came from Habakkuk after he had complained to the Lord. In it the prophet says that if the whole world falls apart, “…yet, I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength!” (Habakkuk 3:18-19 NLT)

The old hymnwriters got it right.

Trials dark on every hand,

And we cannot understand,

All the ways that God would lead us

To that blessed Promised Land;

But He guides us with His eye

And we’ll follow till we die.

For we’ll understand it better by and by.

In these days when we do not…cannot…understand what God is doing or why He is allowing all that is swirling around us, we must simply trust the heart of an all-loving God. He is Sovereign. And… He does understand!

God’s best…