My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts
Is it possible to know “Why” God allows certain developments in the world?
Human beings are inquisitive people. We want to know why things happen, what they mean, what might happen next. It’s human nature.
And to some extent we can discover answers to our questions because God made us in his image, with the ability to reason and learn. We can think, but we are not omniscient.
When bad or destructive things happen, like tornadoes or weather events the insurance industry calls “Acts of God,” we want to know why. When tragedy occurs, like an accidental death, we want to know why. When serious illness strikes, we want to know why.
Sometimes we might be able to discern why, but usually this is long into the future when we benefit from hindsight. But often, we will not know.
Scripture reminds us,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
When we do not know, yet we know God’s character and promises, so we put our trust in him.