SEPTEMBER 6, Proverbs 3:5

“Why, God?” murmured Jolene as she hugged her baby brother. Scott was adorable, but they had recently learned that he was deaf. “Don’t blame God, Jolene,” Mom said gently. “His ways are above our ways. We need to trust Him even when we can’t understand.” But Jolene wanted to understand. “After all, we’re Christians,” she thought. “Isn’t God supposed to take care of Christians? How can Mom and Dad be so calm? They treat Scott like any other baby.

“Are you ready to go to the park, Jolene?” Mom interrupted Jolene’s thoughts. “If we don’t hurry we’ll miss part of it.” She held out her arms to the baby. “Come to Mommy, darling,” she said.

“I don’t see why you should talk to him, Mom,” Jolene said harshly. “You know he can’t hear you!”

Mom sighed. “I’ve told you, Jolene,” she said. “It’s important for him to see our lips move and to feel the vibration of our words. Now brush away the tears and angry thoughts. Let’s have a good time. Scott will love the park.”

It was a long weekend and the park was crowded. As they settled under the shade of a large tree, other groups of people were quite near them. There was a carnival at the park and because it was crowded, Jolene could not see clearly. Dad handed Scott to Mom, and with a swoop, Jolene was up on her father’s shoulder. She clapped her hands. “Now I can see the whole carnival,” she said, grinning down at her dad.

Soon the carnival was over and they rested a while at the park before making their way home. “Life is a lot like the carnival,” observed Dad. “We’re like children in the crowd, and we can see only one moment at a time. God is above the crowd. He sees each person’s entire life, the past and the future, as well as the present. We wonder why Scott is deaf, but that’s because we see only the present. God knows why, because He sees the whole picture.”

Jolene patted her sleeping brother’s hand. “I’ll try to remember that, Dad,” she promised.

Thought: Am I questioning God about something that happened? His ways are above mine.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, many things in my life are beyond my ability to understand. At any point in time, I see only a very small part. But please remind me that You see it from beginning to end. Teach me to simply trust You to do what is best. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.