Slideshow image

Day Eighty-Seven

The Wonder of God’s Mysterious Ways (Read Proverbs 30:17-20)

17 The eye that mocks a father
    and despises a mother’s instructions
will be plucked out by ravens of the valley
    and eaten by vultures.

18 There are three things that amaze me—
    no, four things that I don’t understand:
19 how an eagle glides through the sky,
    how a snake slithers on a rock,
    how a ship navigates the ocean,
    how a man loves a woman.

20 An adulterous woman consumes a man,
    then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”

Reflection:

Proverbs 30:18-19 reminds us of the wonder and mystery that God has woven into His creation. The writer reflects on four things that stir awe—an eagle soaring through the sky, a snake slithering across a rock, a ship navigating the vast ocean, and the love between a man and a woman. Each image points to the beauty and complexity of God’s design, which we cannot fully comprehend. We refer to all creation as God’s mysterious ways.

Jesus often spoke about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, using parables and images to reveal spiritual truths beyond human understanding. Following Jesus, we realize we don’t need to understand everything to trust Him. When we let go of our need to control and explain every detail, we create room for faith and wonder. Faith doesn’t need to know.

Famous theologian C.S. Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” This quote captures the heart of Proverbs 30:18-19. Faith allows us to see and appreciate the mysteries of life, even when we don’t have all the answers. We get to choose which lens we view the world. When we view the world through the lens of a Jesus-looking God, we begin to see the mysteries of God in a Jesus-centered way.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Where do I struggle to let go of control and fully trust God?
  2. How can I cultivate a sense of wonder and awe for God’s creation and work?
  3. What mysteries in my life do I need to surrender to God, trusting His most excellent plan?

Next Steps:

  1. Embrace awe: Spend time this week reflecting on something in God’s creation that fills you with wonder, like a sunset, the ocean, or the stars. Let it remind you of God’s greatness.
  2. Surrender control: Identify one area of your life where you’ve been trying to control the outcome. In prayer, surrender it to God, trusting Him with the results.
  3. Grow in faith: Memorize Hebrews 11:1—“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Reflect on how faith invites you to trust what you cannot fully understand.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Creator of all things, seen and unseen. Help me stand in awe of Your work and trust You in the things I cannot fully understand. Teach me to let go of my need to control and to embrace faith in Your perfect wisdom. Fill my heart with wonder at the mysteries You’ve placed in this world, and guide me as I walk with You each day. In Your name, I pray, Amen.

This devotion encourages us to live with wonder, trust God’s mysteries, and grow in faith by following Jesus.

May God bless your hearing, understanding, and application of today’s wisdom.