Day 26 — Higher Ways

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

— Isaiah 55:8–9 (BSB)

Have you ever prayed and prayed for something, and God didn’t do it? Maybe you prayed for someone to get better, and they didn’t. Maybe you prayed that your family wouldn’t have to move, and you moved anyway. Maybe you prayed for something really good, and nothing seemed to happen.

That can be confusing. It can even make you wonder, Does God really hear me? Does He care?

God does hear. And He does care. But today’s verse reminds us of something important: God doesn’t think the way we think. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.”

Think about the sky. How high is it? Go outside and look up. Then think about the stars, trillions of miles away. The sky is so high that no one could ever reach the top. God says His ways are higher than ours by that much.

Imagine a toddler who wants to play with a sharp knife. When his mom says no, he screams and cries. He doesn’t understand! To him, it looks like his mom is being mean. But his mom sees what he can’t see. She says no because she loves him.

We’re a little like that toddler. We see only a tiny part of the picture. God sees everything: the past, the present and the future. He knows what’s truly good for us, and He knows how everything fits together. Sometimes His “no” or “not yet” comes from love we can’t understand yet.

That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to be disappointed or confused. You can tell God exactly how you feel. The Bible is full of people who asked God, “Why?” But in the end, faith means trusting God’s heart even when you can’t understand His ways.

One day, maybe not until heaven, you’ll see the whole picture. And you’ll see that God was good the whole time.

Think about it: Have you ever prayed for something that God didn’t give you? How does Isaiah 55:8–9 help?

Try this: Go outside and look up at the sky for a minute. Remind yourself: “God’s ways are higher than my ways.”

Dear God, sometimes I don’t understand why You do what You do, or why You don’t answer my prayers the way I want. Help me trust You even when I don’t understand. Thank You that Your ways are higher than mine, and that You always know what’s best. In Jesus’ name, Amen.