Accepting the Unacceptable

Acknowledging that God’s ways are not our ways has made a real difference in my life, and accepting that truth can make a difference in yours, too. Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

This verse taught me how to accept the unacceptable. The following principles, drawn from this verse, gave me a lens through which to look at everything that happens to me. I offer them to you as well.

Principles to Accept the Unacceptable

1. I don’t have to understand everything—What freedom this acceptance brings! Imagine, no more digging or dogged determination to get to the bottom of an issue.
2. I don’t need to understand everything—What release this attitude brings! Why? Because it’s an attitude that acknowledges that God is in control.
3. I can’t understand everything—I am finite and limited, but God—who knows all and understands all—is infinite and limitless.
4. Why ask “Why?”—The man Job in the Old Testament never asked why when he was suffering. He worshiped instead. Notice very carefully what carried Job through his ordeal.

Unlike the stance of the stoic to grin and bear it, Job grabbed on to facts about God. Facts like, God is too kind to do anything cruel, too wise to make a mistake, but too deep to explain Himself.

Believing true facts about God should erase all doubts. We can stop asking ”Why?” and start looking at ”Who” stands behind the scene. It is God in His absolute sovereignty, and this calls us to worship. When we worship, we can rest in God despite unexplainable and seemingly unacceptable situations, and we experience the rest of faith and the peace of faith. We can learn to:

1. Let it go—Pry your grip off your problem, and let it be gone forever. Oh, the freedom you will experience, even without any change, when you accept the unacceptable.
2. Let God be God—And what is He? Un-understandable, unsearchable, inscrutable, inexhaustible, unfathomable, and impossible to grasp.
3. Let go of your right to know—Stop demanding answers from God. Cease saying to God, “I’m not getting up from prayer until You tell me or show me why this is happening!”
4. Accept these as God’s ways—Again, note the emphasis on God. Whatever has happened to you, it has to do with His ways, and they are “past finding out!” Again, you will never understand or find out, so you must accept the unacceptable.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of Your wisdom and knowledge, O God! How unsearchable are Your judgments and Your ways are past finding out. Your greatness cannot be imagined. You are greater than all language, and no words can express your majesty. You are above all, outside of all, and beyond all I can even imagine. You are without limits. When I speak of You I cannot refer to amount or size or weight, for You are beyond measure. You are not less or more, large or small. You are simply God, the infinite One. A human mind has no capacity to comprehend You. What I can do is praise, adore, and worship You.” Amen. (prayer by Robert Savage)

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In The Remarkable Prayers of the Bible: Transforming Power for Your Life Today, Jim George looks deeply into the prayers of some great people in the Bible.

REFLECT:

What lies am I believing, instead of the truth about God?

REMEMBER:

Believing true facts about God should erase all doubt.