As a kid growing up, I asked a lot of questions that began mostly with why. Admit it, we all did. And if our caregivers didn’t respond as quickly as we thought they should, we got louder. Then when we had kids who would ask us the same questions that began with why.  When we answered them, the quick response after the explanation was nearly always, “yeah, but why?” Whys can go on forever!  Our parents, and their parents, and us as parents and grandparents finally end the merry-go-round of whys with, “Just trust me.”

We don’t understand how all things work as we work them!  We don’t understand why people act the way they do but we still relate to them.  We don’t understand why leaders fall and governments fail but they are human and need help from God. We don’t understand how we got to moon, walked on it, then returned to earth.  We don’t understand how our vehicles get us from point A to point B but we do know we must fuel them to make them work. (That’s another message for another day, or is it?) 

We can work hard to figure most things out because God created us with brains smarter than animals.  He gave us enough to survive but do we need to know all the details to thrive? For instance, we don’t have to understand why or how we wake up to a new day; but we do need to know how will we respond to it.  We may have a schedule for the day but God has a plan. Do we surrender to His agenda or drag along behind the guiding of His Holy Spirit always wanting to know why with all the details laid out step by step before we begin?  (Guilty, ouch)

The greatest and hardest to understand is why, in our darkest days of sin, Christ died for our sins.  We certainly do not deserve nor do we have the ablity to earn His complete forgiveness and redemption.  And we can’t seem to fully understand or comprehend the love of God has prompted Him to give His Son as a sacrifice to pay for our sins.  But He did. 

We also don’t fully understand the power of God’s Holy Spirit who comes to live in us and goes to work patiently and compassionately on our once sinful condition to transform us into a new person with a new way of life with a new identity in Christ—a lifetime work of achievement!  But He does.  God/Jesus/Holy Spirit, the Three-In-One, offers to give us all we need. 

Here’s what we do understand.  Our response to Him is surrender, the kind of surrender that no longer needs to ask to know why.  If we knew all the details of what lies ahead for us, we might live in constant fear.  God is the Only One who needs to know.  But know and understand this, God always wants the best for us, is always with us, and consistently provides all we need to do what He says as we grow in our intimate loving relationship with Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We don’t have to understand all things to believe Jesus saved us and paid for our sins with His sacrifice of His Body. Understanding is not what God requires; loving God back with complete surrender to His will is what God is looking for as he scans the earth. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

God asks for complete surrender from demanding to know why, who, what, when and where before doing what He says.  We do not need to know it all to be all in with Jesus. AND get this, we don’t need to know and understand all the Bible tells us to tell someone else about Jesus who saved us and set us free! 

It took me a minute to understand that I don’t need to understand it all. I remember the day I surrendered to wanting to know why. What a glorious day! Peace came that was beyond all understanding. Joy filled my soul as worries faded.  I no longer needed to know why.  My only desire is to be in a growing relationship with the One who does know and loved me more than anyone else in this world. This is Truth.  This I believe.

Psalm 119:161-168, The Message

ש Sin and Shin U is for Understanding

I’ve been slandered unmercifully by the politicians,
    but my awe at your words keeps me stable.
I’m ecstatic over what you say,
    like one who strikes it rich.
I hate lies—can’t stand them!—
    but I love what you have revealed.
Seven times each day I stop and shout praises
    for the way you keep everything running right.
For those who love what you reveal, everything fits—
    no stumbling around in the dark for them.
I wait expectantly for your salvation;
    God, I do what you tell me.
My soul guards and keeps all your instructions—
    oh, how much I love them!
I follow your directions, abide by your counsel;
    my life’s an open book before you.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that no matter what is happening in the Psalmist’s life; he is determined to follow what God says and “abide in His counsel” for he knows his “life’s an open book before God”.  The Psalmist has surrendered to God who knows all, is in all, and above all. He knows that God knows our hearts, “our lives an open book before Him”. We know God’s desire is not to condemn but to save us.  God sent His Son to restore us, teach us, and redeem us from death which powerfully demonstrates the relentless love of God!  His Holy Spirit comes as Counsel to guide us to all Truth! 

To Him be all the glory!  There is no one like our God!  Trust Him!

I can still hear in my mind my dad, mom, uncle and aunt singing this song of truth; “I Don’t Know About Tomorrow but I Know Who Holds My Hand”. Simple but profound is our God so we can understand more and more each day.

I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden’s getting lighter;
Every cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood.

(Composed by Ira F Stamphill, 1950)

Lord,

Thank you for your Word that gives us more understanding of who you are with what is required of us.  I surrender all to you. I’m listening. Let the morning bring word of your unfailing love for all my trust is in you. And what a relief it is to not be required to know it all but to lean on your understanding.

In Jesus Name, Amen