“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. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
-Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)
This is a very packed passage and I pray you find all the meaning in it for your own life, as I unfold the meaning of it in my own life. I truly enjoy how the beginning starts. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. Sometimes this is difficult to understand. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” We would all rather follow the path that more footsteps have been on, the one that looks a little easier.
But God asks more of us! He wants us to know that His ways are higher than our ways and He will lead us to places that we can hardly dream of, if we are willing to go to places that don’t have pre-made paths to them already. God’s looking for people who will stand out in the crowd and who are willing to leave a trail in this world!
Sometimes when work, friends, family, life, health, school, church, finances, and natural disasters come into our lives. We allow the perception these things create disrupt the flow of our lives and we get a little frazzled. We wonder what kind of plan God has. We need to remember what God says in His Word ~ His ways and His thoughts are HIGHER than ours. We cannot always understand what He is doing, but we can trust that what He is doing will be the best for us! He has a plan and a purpose for our lives. In verse 10, we see what happens when the rain and snow fall to the ground. As it melts away from the earth it waters the plants of the earth and leaves things in bloom. This is how the harder things in life leave our hearts and souls. They water us, carving away the bitterness, the unforgiveness, the things that don’t belong in us, so we can become more like our Father in Heaven.
The last great TRUTH about this passage is the power of God’s Word. He says what comes from His mouth, never returns empty. He will accomplish what He desires to accomplish. He will achieve a purpose with His Word. Remember, God’s Word will accomplish what He desires for it to accomplish. God has set a plan into motion and He will not abandon it. The best way to to develop an understanding of God’s plan is to read His Word. There will never be anyone who can teach you God’s plan for your life better than God. Your dreams, aspirations, and goals can all be found in God’s Word. God knows what your next step should be. Will you allow Him to help you take it? Will you let Him guide you with His Truth?
Lord, thank you for each promise in Your Word. May I continue to read your Word and may the contents of it be ever soaked into my being. May I dwell in Your presence forever dear Lord. I pray my heart will be moldable in Your hands and my soul will continue to thrive after the things of You. May I be someone who lives for Your Word daily.
Your ways truly are higher than my ways,
Sarah