Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
“For 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.”
There are many times I’ve wished I could understand the mind of God and know His ways. (Please do not overthink what I said here ) But as I think about it, would I really want to know? That’s a random question I still haven’t sat with fully.
What I do know—and what is far greater than my wanting to know the mind of Christ—is that He already knows mine. He knows my desires, my hopes, my joys, and my pain. He knows what makes me come alive and what drains me completely. That’s why it is so important for my thoughts and actions to be aligned with Him.
A few years ago, my husband and I were determined to buy a second home where we currently live. We knew exactly what we wanted—and even more, what we didn’t want. We saw many houses, but none fit our criteria. And let me add: this desire for another home was a step of faith, because at that time, our finances didn’t exactly line up. But we pressed forward anyway. Our realtor eventually showed us a set of townhomes. Long story short—we fell in love. It was perfect: newly built, in a neighborhood we loved, and it checked every single box. We started the process right away, went to the bank, and even had the developer make changes to the layout and fixtures. We were so sure. But then came the devastating call from the bank. Because of a procedural issue, our loan could not be approved. Disappointment was an understatement. We pleaded with God—this house felt so right, the neighborhood was perfect, and we had already made changes to the unit. The embarrassment and frustration were heavy.
Still, we kept searching. That search stretched out for another two years.
Fast forward—our realtor eventually grew weary of us, so we started looking on our own. One day, we came across a property for sale in the same neighborhood we loved. I reached out to the listing agent, but she told me it was already taken. However, she mentioned another available townhome in that same area. To our surprise, it turned out to be another block of the very same property we had paid down on two years earlier. This time, everything worked out. Today, we live in that home, and we’ll soon be celebrating our first anniversary there. Closing on it was costly, but God made a way—miraculously, as he always does.
It reminds me of Isaiah 60:22 NLT
…At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”
God knows our hearts’ desires. He knows when (timing) something will truly serve us, and He is intentional about how we experience life. It wasn’t until I learned to let go of the reins and allow God to take full control that I began to truly understand what it means when He says, “My ways are higher than your ways.” We often wrestle with wanting things in our timing, but no matter how many failures we face by forcing things, God’s path is already laid out. Our role is to move in step with Him, to let the Holy Spirit lead us, and to trust His timing. Looking back, we realize we could have given up after that first disappointment. We could have settled for a home outside of God’s plan. But the very first time we saw that house, He already knew our hearts, the plan was in place, and most times, even before it is a desire in our hearts. But it wasn’t yet the right time. Two years later, it was. Everything aligned: the process was smooth, everyone was accommodating, and it all fell into place perfectly.
So I say this to you: every one of our experiences has been predestined by God. When disappointment comes, yes, feel it—but don’t let it define you. Trust that God still has a plan. He is intentional about every detail of your journey. He wants to overwhelm you with joy and surprise you with His goodness. Let that knowledge sink in. Trust Him fully. Trust the process. And know this—what God has predestined for you will come at the right time, and it will be better than you ever imagined. That’s because He’s intentional.
Lots of Love & Light