God’s Ways are Not Our Ways

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says 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

Have you ever been in a season where God surprised you with His means of provision for a need you desperately had? I have. When I look back, it sometimes feels funny, considering how worried I get when I’m desperately in need and the delays tempt me to believe that God will abandon me.

Having lived with an abandonment wound, I easily get worried and sometimes fail to depend on God. But as I journey through life, I’m opening up to believe that He cares, my needs matter to Him and He’s not out to embarrass me. He’s not ashamed of me being His child. He delights in providing for me and wants me to depend on Him moment by moment.

The adverse childhood experiences I had made me vow in childhood that I’ll work hard in life and not depend on anyone. I felt that my future was in my hands and that it heavily depended on my hard work, but doesn’t hard work pay?

I would read Matthew 6:33 half-heartedly. I was afraid that God would fail me. I saw my mother work hard in serving God and in her business, but we still went without food sometimes, missed out on rent and were sent home for lack of school fees. I didn’t know where to place my unspoken thoughts. It seemed as though provision was just for specific people and then some of us were destined to lack and suffer. But God has been changing my thoughts gently.

I’m in a season where He’s gently teaching me that His ways are not my ways. When my mum was involved in a road traffic accident and got a physical disability when I was a teenager, I was worried that we would suffer forever. But God showed up in unique ways and provided for our needs, even in our most desperate moments.

A story that comes to mind every time I feel like my plans have failed and disappointment weighs heavily on me is Elijah’s story. This is recorded in 1 Kings 17:2-6. God used Elijah to warn the king of Israel that there would be famine in the land because they had turned away from God and were worshiping idols. God then instructed him to hide and that He’d provide food for Him through ravens.

Yoh! I can’t imagine what was going through Elijah’s mind because if it were me, I’d argue with God, complain, and perhaps find alternative ways. How would ravens feed a person??? Ravens are considered mean and territorial. They were considered unclean animals by the Hebrews. Ravens only care about their own, but they’re intelligent. No wonder God used them. They have a great memory and can mimic sounds better than parrots. So, these not-so-pleasant birds served Elijah every day, morning and evening. Perhaps they had a roster, lol. Elijah depended on God so much that He accepted provision from Him even when the means was uncommon. I want to be like Elijah.

I’ve had moments where my normal way of getting inspiration or my needs met have been thwarted and God has used unexpected ways to provide for me. I struggle to accept closed doors, canceled opportunities, and failed projects. But even in those disappointing times, God still shows up for me in unexpected ways to cheer me up, to remind me that He cares, and to remind me that I am not my performance.

I’m currently learning that sometimes we can easily block our blessings by insisting on our ways, insisting that God provides through familiar ways. God could have rained manna on Elijah, but He chose the ravens. He could’ve sent mighty angels to fight for Elijah, but He asked Him to hide. He could have caused trees around Him to provide fruits, nuts, or edible plants, but He chose the ravens. He could have sent angels, but He chose the ravens. His ways are not our ways.

I imagine He used different ravens to keep Elijah from getting attached to the means of provision. It’s easy for us to attach to blessings and neglect our relationship with God. Perhaps it’s because blessings are tangible while God is not, and that can be a challenging concept for our minds to sustain. The good thing is that God meets us where we are, not where we think we should be.

I’ve just remembered a verse that keeps me going when I feel ashamed of God’s ways,

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NKJV

God is interested in showing up for us. Our needs matter to Him. Our well-being is His priority. He calls for us to totally depend on Him. Are we missing out on His blessings because He’s using uncommon ways to show up for us? What’s blocking you from receiving the peace and the blessing you desperately need? How are you interpreting your current hiding season? Will you let Him show up for you in His uncommon ways? God wants to take care of you in uncommon ways, will you receive His offer today?

Love,

Faith