His ways are not my ways

This is an incident that happened nearly 18 years ago. I’d gone to pick up my three-year-old nephew from school, where he was attending kindergarten. Our house was just a few homes down the lane from the school, but the road to it often saw large transport buses and cement trucks hurtling by at breakneck speed. 

We were on our way back home that day when my nephew began throwing a tantrum because he wanted to go back to the playground. But the school had already closed. 

There I was, half-dragging, half-carrying a screaming toddler beside that busy road, but I refused to let him go, because I knew the consequences if I did.

Looking back now, I laugh about it and tease him, but the incident also taught me a big truth in my own personal life. So often, I don’t like the paths or situations God paves out before me to walk in. I wriggle and writhe because I wish I could either go back or go my own way. But the Saviour too has never let go of my hand. In my ignorance, I may never understand His ways — but as His child, I need to trust His intentions. 

George Mueller once said, “In a thousand trials, it is not just five hundred of them that work out for good in a believer’s life, but nine hundred and ninety nine plus one.” Every trial and every heartache is somehow working together beautifully for the ultimate good of making us a little more like Christ in every way (Romans 8:28, 29).

Every trial is somehow working together beautifully for the ultimate good of making us a little more like Christ in every way

Never alone

The truth that we need to keep reminding ourselves in all of this is that we are never alone. Hebrews 13:5 says, “For He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’.” The English translation of this verse hardly justifies the actual Greek text, which includes five negatives in this verse. Loosely translated, the verse actually reads, “I will never, never leave you and I will never, never, never forsake you”! 

Even in our darkest days, when we cannot feel or see God’s presence, His strong hand is still there, not letting go. Psalm 139:8-10 says, “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand will hold me.” 

How reassuring it is to know that we are sustained in our walk with God, not because we are holding on to the Lord, but because He is lovingly holding on to us! Yes, our Lord remains faithful to us, even when we are faithless.

Our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:15), whether they are pleasant or painful. As the Man of Sorrows, He has walked every path we have trod. When our souls are weary and tired, He Himself carries us and lovingly makes us lie down in green pastures and beside still waters to restore us. 

The Saviour made a promise that He will never break. That He will be our faithful guide until the end, until that glorious day when we reach our blessed home. What a wonderful Saviour we have! 

As we learn to trust in Him more, may we also sing:

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur or repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is Thou that leadest me.

He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.