Life is challenging, especially when things happen that you don’t understand. You may experience fear, doubts, and questions. There are so many things that are out of your control, out of your hands. It’s a natural reaction to ask questions and even to question your faith in these times. It is difficult to get your mind around the fact that God is omniscient (all knowing). This means he knows the future, has complete and unlimited knowledge. He is never caught off guard. And God has a plan to prosper you, and give you hope and a future. If you truly believe this, it will change how you pray and how you live. But it means that you continue to believe even when you don’t understand, even when things don’t make sense. You don’t have to understand everything to believe something.

Scriptures – Jeremiah 29:11-12; John 9:1-3, 6-7, 10, 14-15, 19-21, 24-25, 35-38

Verse – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

(Je 29:11-12) As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents’ sin?” Jesus answered, “His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins. He is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him.” (Jn 9:1-3)

Thought – In John Chapter 9 we read the story of the man who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus if the man’s blindness was a result of his own sin or his parents’ sin. This question reflected a terribly misguided cultural idea that a person with some disability was somehow responsible for their condition. Jesus clearly states that no one’s sin caused the blindness, but rather that he is blind so that God’s power can be seen at work in him. Jesus proceeds to heal the man with a little homemade mud (dirt and spit) rubbed over his eyes. Jesus instructs the man to go and wash his face in a nearby pool, and with the wash off comes his sight. This causes quite a stir among the community and the Pharisees. First, the Pharisees are distressed because the healing took place on the Sabbath, a day or rest. No “work” was to be done. Seems like they are missing the point. The BIG news is this man is now healed. As he is questioned by friends, family and Pharisees, the man concludes that he doesn’t know anything about Jesus or how his sight was restored through the mud process, but he does know this one thing— “I was blind, but now I see!” That’s the real news. All of the whens, whys and hows don’t matter at all to the man who is healed. The others can debate all they want, but he knows that his life is forever changed. Just because we don’t understand something doesn’t mean God isn’t doing something. God is often doing the most when we understand the least. So much happens in life that we don’t understand and can’t control, but trusting in a God that is for you, means you don’t have to understand everything. He has a good plan for your life, though unseen, and maybe unrevealed, it’s very real. 

Questions – Share something you didn’t understand at the time, but now see how God was working. Share something you don’t understand right now. How does God receive glory from our tests and trials? Why can’t he just get glory from all the good things that happen to us? Explain. 

Response – Journal about something that is now going on that you don’t understand, haven’t seen answers to your prayers and have questions and doubts. Turn it over to God completely. Acknowledge that you aren’t in control. Ask God to bring good from the situation. Believe!

Prayer – Dear God, thank you for having good plans for me. I trust in your control. Help me to believe when I don’t see and to be faithful when life is difficult. Help me to be steadfast in you, knowing that you see all and hold the future in your hands. Help me to find joy as I rest in your care. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.