The Unexplainable

My Heart Trusts You with the Unexplainable

So much of the Christian walk remains unexplainable this side of Heaven. The “whys” we wrestle with, the prayers that seem unanswered, and the tragedies and injustices can deeply challenge our faith. We ask, “How can a loving God allow this to happen?” Or, “What ‘good’ could possibly come from this?” 

I wonder what went through the minds of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they learned what it would cost to refuse to bow before King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. Did they know about the fiery furnace beforehand? Was it already lit and waiting for them? Were they clear-headed, without a trace of fear? Did they expect God to part the flames as He parted the Red Sea?

As humans, we all wrestle with unbelief at times. We want answers to the unexplainable. I think each one of those men felt the heat of their own unbelief before getting anywhere close to Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. We all have to rise above what our flesh is screaming and say with these three men: “… our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace … but if not … we will not worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 3:16-28).

We love the first part of that verse, and don’t like to talk about the second part.

Some treat healing as if God is bound to answer only one way. I’d love God to heal me right this minute. I’d love Him to eliminate every cancer cell and all pain—and He may still. But in the meantime, I have to guard my heart against fear and hopelessness.

David faced a horrible situation when he and his men returned to Ziklag to find their homes burned to the ground and their wives and children taken captive by the Amalekites. We can’t imagine their anguish, but we can learn from David’s example how to face our own unexplainable situations.

First, David cried until he could cry no more.

I’m so thankful for tears. I’ve gone through dozens of boxes of tissues in the past five years. But David didn’t stop with tears.

David strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

The Hebrew word for "strengthen" conveys the idea of fortifying oneself. It’s a self-strengthening, highlighting spiritual reliance. We have a part to play.

David dealt with his emotions, strengthened himself in what he knew to be true about his God, and then sought the Lord’s direction about what to do next. It’s okay to cry, but we can’t stop there.

When days are hard, when I get frustrated with my limitations, that’s when I grab my box of tissues, go to my porch swing, and do as David did.

The focus is not the healing. The focus is the Healer.

The gospel offers hope that goes beyond healing our bodies. In the wake of the cross, death is not the end. It is a momentary breath between this world and the next when we are reunited with our risen Lord and step into a life that will never end.

I believe God wants to cultivate in us a trust that can say, “… but if not …,” I will follow You. That’s not a denial of the stripes of Jesus. It’s a love that says, “I trust You, Jesus, no matter what the outcome.”

Thank God, our faith has linked us to the Spirit’s enabling power of perseverance and for the grace to believe, even in the face of the unexplainable.

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