I Always Know Best

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

In our jail Bible study, it’s always interesting to hear the inmates talk about how they’re thankful for jail because it’s given them a chance to get sober, find God, and change their ways. This only goes so far though. If they have an upcoming court date, they are of course, praying to get out. They believe they’ve learned their lesson, and they never hope for more time. Convinced they don’t need a longer incarceration, they pray for an early release. If court doesn’t go their way, they’re frustrated with God because he got it wrong. They must get out.

I’ve been there. In the disaster of my addiction, I knew I needed treatment, but I also knew that I only needed to be there for two weeks. When I was told I’d be there three, and then four weeks, I lost it. Despite all evidence to the contrary, I believed I should oversee my own recovery. I surrendered control to God when I initially went to treatment. Your will be done. When my time was extended though, I realized God could no longer be trusted. Your will stinks. I know better. 

I struggle with time and perspective. I’m impatient and frankly, my mind is small. When told things won’t happen in my timeline, I’m easily frustrated. I want my life to work out the way I think it should. I want God to meet my expectations. I want the universe to make sense and to fit into my brain. In today’s passage though, Peter explained that this is highly unlikely.

In the passage, Peter said God’s perspective is profoundly above and beyond mine. To God, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. I can know God, but I’ll never understand everything he does. How could I? This is like my dog, being frustrated that the master must leave and go to work every day. He can’t understand the why because he can’t comprehend employment. He’s a dog and I’m a person. He’ll never have the capacity to know what I know.

It takes faith, but this is how we should approach God. He isn’t required to meet our sense of fair, logic, or timing. He doesn’t have to explain himself to us and there are always going to be things about him that confound us. He’s God though, and we’re not. We’re like my dog, needing to rely on the master’s love and good will towards us. He’s God. We’re not.