When I Am Smarter Than God

There are times when I know more than God. Well, not really, but if we are honest, there are times when we all think we know more than God. We consider God’s will or God’s direction and we inform God of what would be best for us, or a particular situation, or even for others.

We know what God’s word says about his wisdom and his will, but we often want to tell God what is best.

But, what would happen in our lives if we actually believed all that God says about us and about himself? What would change if we really believed that God knew best.

Struggles and trials would still come in our lives if we completely trusted in God’s will, but we would approach those struggles and trials with the confidence of Paul in Romans 8:28 knowing that these things work for good for all who love God and are called according to his purpose. We would echo James 1:2 and consider these things pure joy when we meet trials of various kinds. If we trusted in God’s word as much as we claim to, then we would find ways to give thanks in all circumstances because that is the will of God for us (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

In short, if we believed the word of God in the ways that God calls us to, if we saw it as a book of promises that cannot fail, then we would approach life far differently. We would follow the will of the Lord in full confidence that doing so is best. We would shun sexual immorality. We would be completely honest on our taxes. We would show hospitality to the alien, the orphan, and the widow and we would love the lost with the extravagance of Jesus.

You see, often, I don’t follow Christ as faithfully as I should because deep down, I just don’t fully trust that he knows more than I do. Just as my first father, Adam, I am inclined often to believe that God is somehow holding something back from me, and I know what is best for my life better than God. May the Lord forgive me and forgive us all for not fully trusting him.

And, as we seek his forgiveness, let us all welcome the struggles of life that force us to rely upon him. You see, in the easy times of life we come to know God’s word and God’s promises, but it is in the difficult times that we come to believe and lean upon God’s faithful promises. In my wisdom, I don’t believe that hard times should come to me, but when I can see for brief seconds from God’s perspective I learn that my wisdom is not for my good. God knows far better than me what I need, and what I need most is him.

God knows far better than me what I need, and what I need most is him. Click To Tweet

In the hard times of life, God gives us himself and God shows us a side of himself that–even though he has told us of it in his word–we just do not believe until we experience it. We are like Job,

Through our experiences, God applies his word and shows us his faithfulness.

Yes, I often believe I know more than God, but thankfully I am wrong and I pray with my fellow strugglers,