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 noticed that God does not answer our prayers in the way that we expect? I am a planner.  I am constantly thinking about the next thing I want to accomplish.  I have very clear ideas about what I want my next 10 days, 10 months and 10 years to look like.  I happen to think that my plans are pretty good.  But God always has different ideas.  He likes to take my plans, turn them on their head, and do something entirely different – and better – with them.  And when He does, I am reminded that His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

For instance, I don’t care for change. I don’t like moving, and I don’t like switching jobs.  In fact, after I was done with school, I easily could have remained in New York City forever.  But God decided that I needed to see the world.  So circumstances have led me to live all over this country and abroad.  These moves have enriched my life in ways that staying put would not have.  I’ve had incredible experiences, and I’ve made friends from so many different places.  God knew better than I did what was best for me.

What I’ve learned is that when I am faced with a seemingly negative problem (like having to move or change jobs), God will use that situation to benefit me. But I have to do my part, and trust Him.  I have to trust that He can turn that negative situation into something unbelievably positive.

What does it mean to trust God with your “negatives”? It means keeping a positive attitude, even when you can’t see how your problems will ever be solved.  It means continuing to work hard, even when you don’t see the possibility of any payback.  It means holding yourself to the highest standard of behavior, no matter what is happening in your life.  It means showing through your words and your deeds that you have put your whole life in God’s hands, and that you know with every fiber of your being that He will work out all things for your benefit.

Trusting God is hard. Instead of trusting God, most of us want to figure things out ourselves.  However, many problems aren’t solvable by our own human abilities.  Many things in life simply are outside of our control.  The recession and its financial devastation were matters outside of our control.  Illness is a circumstance outside of our control.  Some relationship issues are outside of our control.  When we are confronted with matters outside of our control, we need to trust that God will handle those matters.  We need to let go of our anxiety and fear because He is the only one who can take those problems and ultimately use them for our benefit.

If you have problems in your life that you are trying to solve to no avail, stop fretting and trust God. Know that His ways are higher than ours.  Know that His thoughts are higher than ours.  Know that He can do what we cannot.  Know that He not only will deal with your problems, but He will turn them into blessings.  Simply stay in faith and trust Him.

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