Comforters with good intentions often offer up this line when there is nothing else to say, "Well, God works in mysterious ways." Sometimes want to ask, "Is that supposed to be comforting?" When we are up against a crisis, when we don't know which way to turn, what to do, or pain is overwhelming - there isn't much comfort to be had from "mysterious ways!" Or, is there? Let us not rush to a conclusion. Yesterday I spent an hour or so with a young woman who has fought a courageous war with cancer for 9 years! Several times in the last 3 years she has walked right up to death's door, only to be miraculously (and I use that word advisedly) restored to some measure of health. Now she is once more in terrible pain, extremely weakened. As I knelt beside her bed and prayed for her, I could not help from wondering why the Lord would preserve her life, but not heal her completely.
None other than Moses ran into circumstances that tried his faith. In the 5th chapter of Exodus there is a story that reads like a tragic comedy. Moses and Aaron arrive in Egypt with great news for the Hebrew slaves, "The LORD God has sent us to lead you out of slavery, back to the Land of Promise." The people heard their message with great joy and they worshipped the Lord. Then, these two men went to Pharaoh to appeal for release of the Hebrews. As expected, he rejected their request. Instead, the king doubled the slaves' workload, making life even more miserable! So the Hebrews foremen went to him and made an appeal to his fairness. His response was stone-cold, "Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’" (Exodus 5:17, NIV) When the Hebrews next saw Moses and Aaron, they were not worshipping, nor were they joyful! "The foremen said to them, "May God see what you’ve done and judge you—you’ve made us stink before Pharaoh and his servants! You’ve put a weapon in his hand that’s going to kill us!" (Exodus 5:21, The Message)
Moses was as confused as anyone. His prayer of complaint is one that most any of us could pray when God's ways leave us confused. "Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!" (Exodus 5:22-23, NLT) Yes, God was working! From our seat in the grandstand of history we look over the story and realize that the Lord was setting the stage for a confrontation with the gods of Egypt, in which He would show His mighty hand and that they were no gods at all. Egypt was a wonder of the ancient world and God would bring her to her knees before He was finished, but nobody knew that then. They were confused, in pain, and afraid, seeing only the situation that appeared to grow worse by the day.
Believer, if you're in one of those seasons, let me say with deepest tenderness the word which are true: "God works in mysterious ways" and the rest of the line is, "His wonders to perform!" That line is not meant to dismiss your pain or to judge you in your struggle. Instead it is a lifeline of hope that urges us to keep faith, to hope for Him, and to wait as patiently as we are able for His purposes to be revealed. And should you be one of those who is privilege to be walking in the sunshine, enjoying good times, good health, and many blessings - be thankful and keep faith, too! Don't judge your brothers who suffer and do not dismiss their struggles as evidence of lesser faith. Instead, encourage them. Love them. Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
The line "God works in mysterious ways" is actually part of a great hymn written by William Cowper in the 18th century. Cowper struggled with depression for most of his life. In the depths of his pain, he wrote poems that have become well known. According to several sources, the hymn from which this line is taken was his last. The story of the hymn's origin is fascinating though we cannot confirm it. I quote from cyberhymnal.org. "One night he decided to commit suicide by drowning himself. He called a cab and told the driver to take him to the Thames River. However, thick fog came down and prevented them from finding the river (another version of the story has the driver getting lost deliberately). After driving around lost for a while, the cabby finally stopped and let Cowper out. To Cowper’s surprise, he found himself on his own doorstep: God had sent the fog to keep him from killing himself. Even in our blackest moments, God watches over us."
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
- Public Domain, William Cowper
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