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His Plans Are Greater

Hello friends! I hope your day has been amazing! Today, I want to share a quick study on a topic that I think we could all use as a reminder!

I want to begin with a well-known scripture I repeated to myself every day walking to class my second semester of college, Isaiah 55:8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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.”

I repeated this over myself for the stillness it brought to my anxious heart. As we abide in His Word and seek His face in the midst of our heaviness, He increases as the heaviness decreases. Knowing that I have a Heavenly Father who has such a more creative way of writing my story than I could ever begin to comprise brings so much comfort.

I want to share a story that ties in the message for this post. A couple weekends ago, my friends and I agreed to watch a movie, as in a suspenseful, mystery-type movie. Within the first twenty minutes, we were all yelling out our predictions as to how the movie would end. Let’s just say, we were not even close to getting it right… like at all.

Continuing on with the story, it made me reflect on how often we try to predict and control the outcomes of our own lives. We meticulously plan our future, set goals, and envision how everything will unfold; however, just like our failed attempts at predicting the movie’s ending, life has a way of surprising us with turns we never saw coming. And this is the beauty of God’s work.

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s thoughts, His ways, His written story for our lives is far grander than our own comprehension. That’s the wonder in true faith – we aren’t living life for answers or to understand every step of our journey. Living a true Christian life is about acknowledging that there is a divine plan at play, and it surpasses my limited perspective.

As I mentioned before, I am currently reading the book of Job. Throughout the entire book, it is obvious that he doesn’t understand why he is undergoing so much pain, but Job still chooses to declare his assurance in knowing that God is still in control. In chapter 26, Job emphasizes the importance of grasping onto humility in the face of the vastness and complexity of the universe.

I think it is such a beautiful thing that we were created with so little imagination compared to God. Our biggest dream could be the smallest miracle to Him. What we spend hours a day stressing about, there is an invitation to lay this burden down and Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us why.

Imagine if God gave us the dreams we want. If instead of Him having a future that triumphs over our own formulated one, what if He just gave us what we asked for, holding back the greater future He already wrote for us? Isn’t it so amazing that we have a God who laughs at our own plans? He doesn’t do this in a mean or cruel way, but it contrasts between our limited understanding and God’s omniscient perspective. He has written our story forever ago, and Numbers 23:19 reminds us of the certainty that if God speaks it or promises it, it will indeed come to pass.

I also want to share something I learned from reading Job that ties into Isaiah 55:8-9. God does not get aggravated or angry about our questions or desires for answers. Although He desires our complete trust and obedience, He understands that as humans we need constant reassurance and encouragement.

Just as Job questioned God extensively in the midst of his suffering, we are asked to pour out our our hearts, expressing feelings of confusion, frustration, heartbreak, burdens, and complaints to Him. Psalm 62:8b says to “pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” We have a place to bring our questions, our concerns, and our overwhelming emotions.

Again, Isaiah 55:8-9. This is why He allows us to bring our questions, our concerns, and our wrestling matches to Him. He created our minds to have limits. We are His creatures that were made not to understand His ways. He is an understanding Father. He is the great counselor. He does not want His children to be left in sorrow alone. He welcomes our wrestling.

Isaiah 55:8-9 is a beautiful reminder. Every day is an opportunity to experience His story for our life. The God who orchestrated the stars, the oceans, the animals, the clouds, the flowers, is the same God who has a beautiful plan for your life. Don’t insult God by dreaming realistically. He is the God of the unrealistic. He loves the impossible.

One last reference, I heard in a young adult service this past Tuesday by our amazing pastor was this analogy: There’s a horse trying to jump over a pole, but the pole is too high. The horse keeps trying and trying, but continues to fail. It’s obvious that this is impossible for the horse to do, and God knows that it is impossible. So He gives the horse wings so that he can fly over it instead.

This is a story similar to what God wants to do in our lives. The impossible. God views our perceived limitations as the perfect canvas upon which to showcase His miraculous work in our lives.

I encourage you to rest in the all-knowing power of the Author of your story. He never withholds good from us (Psalm 84:11). He extends to you an invitation to rest securely in the assurance that your life story has already been written, relieving you the weight of bearing that burden on your own. His ways are higher than yours. His thoughts are higher than yours. His story for your life is greater than yours.

Thank you for reading !!