You.

My thoughts, are not your thoughts, neither are your ways. My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55, verses eight and nine a woman's daughter was sick with a fever, leaving her with a babysitter. She drove to the pharmacy for medicine, but when she returned to her car, she discovered that she had locked her keys inside. She remembered hearing that you can open a locked door with an old hanger. As if by miracle, she spotted an old coat hanger on the ground near her car. She picked it up but muttered, I don't know how to use this. Then she prayed, o Lord, help me. Just then a bearded, rough looking man with a skull tattoo on his arm walked by and asked if she needed help. You've got to be kidding, she thought. This is the help you send in my hour of need, lord. But she was desperate, so she told the man what had happened and asked if he could help. I think so, he said. He took the hangar and began to work. In a matter of seconds, the car was open. The woman started to cry and hugged the man tightly. Thank you so much for being such a nice man, she said. I'm glad I could help, ma'am, said the man, but I wouldn't say I'm a nice man. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that I just got out of prison for car theft. The woman grinned, hugged the man again, and said, well, all I know is that I prayed that God would send someone to help unlock the door, but I never dreamed he'd send me a professional. You've probably heard the expression that God works in mysterious ways. That's not found in the Bible, but there is some truth in it, as the woman in the story discovered. The poem light shining out of darkness by William Kalper puts it this way. God moves in mysterious way, his wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable minds of never failing skill, he treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take the clouds ye so much dread, are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace. Behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan his work in vain. God is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain by our way of thinking. The way God weaves things together in our lives seems illogical but we are to walk by faith, not sight, and know that God's ways are higher and better than our ways. So reason should follow faith.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected]. Have a a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.