In my current phase of life, certain hymns have become a mainstay in my music library. This hymn, God Moves In A Mysterious Way, has helped me to be able to accept the things that God is doing and allowing even when they made absolutely no sense to me. When speaking to my wonderful adopted big sis Dee earlier this week, we talked about much higher God’s ways and thoughts are than ours. His thinking is on a level that we can’t even imagine. This song is a beautiful reminder to me that what I see right now isn’t the end and that God truly moves in a mysterious way. The hymn was written by William Cowper in 1774. Here is a short passage about his life from CyberHymnal.org.
Cowper often struggled with depression and doubt. One night he decided to commit suicide by drowning himself. He called a cab and told the driver to take him to the Thames River. However, thick fog came down and prevented them from finding the river (another version of the story has the driver getting lost deliberately). After driving around lost for a while, the cabby finally stopped and let Cowper out. To Cowper’s surprise, he found himself on his own doorstep: God had sent the fog to keep him from killing himself. Even in our blackest moments, God watches over us.
And the song he so beautifully penned…
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” – John 13:7 ESV
what i’m doing now, u won’t understand…c’mon…as a child who didn’t understand why the God who was so mighty to save wasn’t saving me, why this all-powerful God wasn’t showing Himself strong, I frequently asked God, “Why?” and He responded with this verse.
Now, as an adult, i’m also reminded of isaiah 55:9 where God says that as high as the heavens are from the earth, THAT’S how disparate My thoughts are from yours. girl. the furthest thing we’ve discovered so far is over 13 BILLION light years away n God’s saying THAT’S how much higher my thoughts, ways, purposes, etc. are than yours. what i love, too, is that He also says that’s how big His love is for us (psalm 103:11). what a God!
what i’m doing now, u won’t understand…c’mon…as a child who didn’t understand why the God who was so mighty to save wasn’t saving me, why this all-powerful God wasn’t showing Himself strong, I frequently asked God, “Why?” and He responded with this verse.
Now, as an adult, i’m also reminded of isaiah 55:9 where God says that as high as the heavens are from the earth, THAT’S how disparate My thoughts are from yours. girl. the furthest thing we’ve discovered so far is over 13 BILLION light years away n God’s saying THAT’S how much higher my thoughts, ways, purposes, etc. are than yours. what i love, too, is that He also says that’s how big His love is for us (psalm 103:11). what a God!