God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

I've been thinking lately about Sarah & Abraham. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation. And Sarah - thinking of her inadequacies to bear children up to that point, I'm presuming - decided to take the matter into her own hands and have Abraham sleep with her servant Hagar. Now, I would NEVER want to share my husband for any reason. The thought of it makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. But, I think Sarah wanted to help God fulfill His promise. (See Genesis 16.) What Sarah didn't realize is that God doesn't need help to accomplish His plans. Sure, He wants our obedience. But, He does as He pleases (Daniel 4:35) and answers to no one.

God didn't need Sarah to create a round-about way to give Abraham children. He gave them a son together - even in their old age. Sarah tried to do things her way, and what ended up happening was detrimental rather than helpful. Going about it her own way lead to heart ache on her part, her servant's part, and the children's part - and continues to fuel problems to this day. Even now, from what I understand the muslim religion holds that Ishmael (the boy born first to the servant) was the one who received Abraham's blessing from God rather than Isaac, the son born of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. Her actions ended up resulting in the creation of a whole new religion that departed from God's truth!

I think sometimes we try to go about God's business in our ways rather than His. I think of losing weight and immediately I think I need to starve myself and exercise round the clock. In fact, last Sunday I decided to go for a run even though I haven't been getting much sleep at night. I figured that I enjoy exercising and that must be the right way to lose weight. But, the following day, I fell and broke my toe. No more running for me for at least six weeks, the doctor said. I was devastated. But, I didn't start my weight loss journey with exercise. Sure, it came later. But, originally, it started by me reading my Bible and highlighting Scripture that spoke to a healthier lifestyle (and thus me writing this).

God knows that real change - not yo-yo diets but REAL life change - stems from the heart. I have to get my thoughts in line with His before I'm going to see lasting change occur. God could, if He desired, make me thin overnight. I wholeheartedly believe that. So, why not read my Bible, and pray and petition God? He is the source of change. And if I want to be successful, I need to submit to His authority and the way that He has prescribed. His ways and His thoughts are higher than mine. The best I can do is talk with Him - via reading the Bible and prayer - and learn what His ways and thoughts might be.

I also tend to think His ways can be easier than we think. That sounds silly. But, Sarah didn't need to share her husband with another woman. She needed to wait on God and trust that He would help her conceive. Trusting and waiting sound hard, but the experience is a lot more rewarding than all the work we do in place of the right thing. Today I'm feeling like God's way is to read our Bible, pray and listen to the Holy Spirit when we hear cues from Him. Beyond that, I need to trust that if He wants me to lose weight, He will be my strength, my source, my vision and my guide.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being the way, the truth and the life. Thank You for communicating your thoughts and ways to us - even though they are much higher than ours - through Your Word. Help us make time to read our Bibles and pray each day. May we listen to You and do things Your way. God we ask that You make us healthy and thin - and that You receive the glory for it. Instead of us doing it the world's way or our own way, please teach us YOUR way. Please create lasting change in our hearts and free us from addiction to overeating and sinful pleasures. I trust You, God, to help us. We need You and ask You for this good gift. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!