This past Sunday in worship, I was preaching what was possibly the single greatest sermon in the history of Christianity, when suddenly, I noticed Ellen and Olivia shaking their heads and making the strangest faces at me. It was clear that they were trying to communicate something but I didn’t know what it was.
The first thought that ran through my head was, “Oh my gosh, I’m standing in front of hundreds of people and my zipper is down.” Then I realized I was wearing a clerical robe so it really didn’t matter one way or another.
Finally, after a few moments of trying to interpret those strange facial expressions, I stopped preaching, looked at the girls and said, “Did I say something wrong?” At that moment, Trent, their father who sits in the choir loft right behind me said, “They were making fun of me because I’ve never seen Finding Nemo.” As everyone laughed, I turned back towards the girls and said, “Don’t make those faces when your father is behind me. It freaks me out.”
Once the laughter subsided, I returned to preaching an absolutely brilliant sermon. All things considered from my perspective, it was a fun worship service.
The point is that I even though I clearly saw what Ellen and Olivia were doing, I got it wrong. I am sure there are many times the same thing happens when I see what God is doing.
God is a continual active presence in each of our lives. But even though we may see God’s activity at any given moment, that doesn’t mean that we always understand what God is doing. This is where we simply need to trust that God loves us and has the best intentions for us. Sometimes we just don’t get it.
This is why God says, “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 higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Even though we may not understand what’s going on, God does. That’s all that really matters.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, open my eyes, so that I may truly see. Open my mind, so that I may understand. Open my heart, so that I will always trust you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Never worry. God has it under control.
Also, just for the record, I now understand why Trent sent Ellen and Olivia so far away for college. If my daughters gave me looks like that, I’d do the same thing.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 