The problem, but not the solution - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

In everything let your requests be made known to God.

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.
Philippians 4: 6; Isaiah 55: 8.9.

The problem, but not the solution
The holiday-makers set out across the lake in their yacht. Thanks to a slight breeze they were proceeding calmly, but then out in the middle of that vast lake the wind dropped. In August the sun is oppressive, and the surface of the water smooth like a mirror. Time was passing; so they asked God to grant that a breeze might rise. But the water remained motionless without a ripple. Their worry turned into fear. Hadn't God heard them?

Suddenly they spotted a black dot in the distance. It was the boat of the fisherman with whom they were staying coming to rescue them.

Afterwards one of the group told how that episode had made him think. They had asked God to make a wind blow. But that was not His solution. They needed to reach land safe and sound. The wind was only one possible solution. God had another. He had not answered their prayer, but responded in His way.

When we bring our problem before God, let us not dictate our solution to Him. He is greater than we are. He has all means at His disposal and can answer in a thousand ways that we should never imagine. Our solution may not be the best.

So let us simply state the problem and put our trust in Him. He will answer, maybe not as we expect. But His response will always be wise and appropriate for the situation.


Today‘s reading: 2 Kings 8: 16 - 29 · John 19: 25 - 30