I don’t know where this story originated. If you are the author, let me know and I’ll give you proper credit. I heard it years ago and was reminded of it again today. It may seem a bit corny, but lately I’ve been in a corny mood.
Sometimes we are tempted to question God. I think that’s okay…I even did a whole sermon about that yesterday. I’ll post it later on this blog. In the end, however, we have to realize that God has answers we do not have.
This cute little story illustrates that principle well:
One time a farmer’s son came back from college…
He thought he was pretty smart…
He and his father went out in the yard…
The boy said, “Dad, I’ve learned a lot while I’ve been gone”
“God’s not as smart as you always told me He was”
“Did you know God made some mistakes?”
“Really”, his dad asked, “Like what?”
“Look at that oak tree….with those little tiny acorns…”, the boy confidently explained,
“And, look at those pumpkins over there, on that small vine”
“God made a mistake…”
“He should have put the pumpkin on that oak tree and the acorn on that vine”
About that time an acorn fell out of the oak tree on to the boy’s head.
“Ouch”, he said.
The wise farmer exclaimed, “Just thank God it wasn’t a pumpkin”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)
What’s going on in your life these days that’s causing you to question God’s wisdom? Could it be He sees some things you cannot see?
My dad, who'll be 88 in January, Lord willing, suffered a heart attack three months ago. He's still in hospital, but the medicos are talking about him being released and going back to his home. God even sent a miracle in the process, healing a finger that was supposed to be amputated. This past summer, an old college friend lost her husband to cancer at age 55; two weeks ago, I spoke at the funeral of another friend — also 55; my wife's first husband died at age 50. It does make one ask, "what are You thinking?" Yet the only answer I hear is, "I have My reasons, and it's up to you to seek them". God loves His relationship with us, and any time we find something paradoxical, puzzling or wildly inconsistent, I think that's just His way of keeping the conversation going.
This is a terrific story.
I was just saying to my wife the other day that there are times when we wonder if God really answers prayer. I realised again that He always does, it's just that sometimes He says no!
His ways are always above our ways and His wisdom is always above our wisdom.
Keep it going Ron, I really enjoy reading your posts.
Thanks Darren. That's a great encouragement
And you know I had to comment on this one 🙂
You know my story so I won't rehash. My issue is that I can talk to my minister about my marriage, I can ask other Christian men, and I can consult the Bible. Everyone comes up with the same thing; honor your marriage and your wife…period.
So I find myself doing that for the last year and a half. Daily praying for her, the marriage, myself and asking God for direction,etc. I try daily by word and action to be an excellent husband. But it doesn't seem as though she has moved an inch from what was going on over a two years ago and every day I question if I really am going the right direction. Everything says I am, but if I am wouldn't God have changed her heart, even just a little? Or give me some regular sign that I am indeed going the right direction? I feel like a man on a road in pitch black darkness needing a small flashlight and there is none.
Yea, I'm with you….Been there before….Praying for you Jon
Thanx, Ron, You know that I bet you hear that a lot and probably many times it's more of a courtesy than anything. But I want you to know how I really covet any and all prayers for my situation. It really does seem at times that He is silent and although I know that there is a plan at work, my frustration and impatience really get in the way of believing that some days. He is good and I know that He loves me and will honor my obedience.
Jon, I think we all appreciate knowing someone is praying for us. Thanks!
Oh yeah…God sees pictures I can't see. Lately he pulled my life's Google Map back one level and showed me how He had been working on something since I was a child to keep me going. Now, He's showing me what to do next to draw deeper with Him. It's amazing to see even a glimpse of the higher level He's on.
That's a great process…as we learn to draw deeper with Him.