Changi Chapel

There is more mercy than we realize when God chooses not to tell us everything.

When the disciples were with Jesus on the Mount of Olives just before his ascension to the Father, one of them asked a question that must have been on everyone’s mind: “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

Jesus’ answer: It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:7-8).

In other words, “Now is not the time. And you don’t need to know when it will be. But for now, I have work for you to do.”

God is merciful not to tell us everything. He tells us enough to sustain us if we trust him.

But often it does not feel like enough. We really think we would like to know more.

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom recalls a time when, as a young girl, she was returning home on the train with her father after accompanying him to purchase parts for his watch-making business.

She asked him to explain how children are conceived. Her father stood up and took out the suitcase he had brought along: "Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said.

I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning. "It’s too heavy," I said.

"Yes," he said. "And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load.

It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."

God is also a wise Father who knows when knowledge is too heavy for us. He is not being deceptive when he does not give us the full explanation.

Someday, when we are older and stronger, he will let us carry more of the burden of knowledge.

Till then, are you willing to trust God completely – even if things dont make sense?

Jon Bloom
Desiring God Ministries
Minneapolis, MN

© Jon Bloom
www.desiringgod.org

Your comments, thoughts or suggestions are welcome. The body text is by the author, the header and the words in italics are mine. My apologies that I have not been able to send these out the last few days – John B. Samuel