A Higher View

Bible Reading: Romans 8:28-32

Talia and Malik grinned at each other as their family rode the elevator to the observation deck of the Willis Tower, the tallest building in Chicago. Their ears popped as they whizzed past floor after floor, going higher and higher. When they got off the elevator, they ran to the window to look out at the view below. “Everything looks so tiny!” Talia exclaimed. “The cars look like toys.”

Malik laughed. “Yeah, and the highways look like black snakes sneaking in and out of the city.”

“You can see a long way from here!” said Talia. “Look at all those boats on the lake.” She turned to her parents. “How far can we see?”

“I don’t know, but it’s a long, long way,” said Mom.

Malik pointed back to the street. “See that red car right below us? It keeps changing lanes, trying to get ahead of everyone else.”

Dad nodded. “That driver is being reckless and zooming past everyone! But look way up ahead of him. The traffic is stopped, and he’ll have to stop too.”

“Too bad he can’t see the road ahead like we can,” said Talia. “Then he’d know he might as well slow down.”

“He reminds me of myself,” said Dad.

“Of yourself? Why?” asked Malik. “You don’t pass everybody on the road.” “No, you’re right. I don’t. I was just thinking about how I’m not always patient when things don’t go the way I’d like them to,” Dad explained. “I know God is in control and has a plan for my life, but sometimes I try to hurry ahead and work things out my own way. Then I complain when they don’t go right.”

“I’m afraid we’re all guilty of that,” said Mom. “We need to remember that God always has a purpose for any delay. His ways—and timing—are best. He has a higher view than we do. He knows what’s up ahead.”

Malik, who was still watching the red car, grinned. “That guy didn’t, but he knows now. He got stopped by a policeman who was up ahead of him.”

Dad smiled. “Next time I get impatient, I’ll try to remember what happened to that driver and trust God to work things out His way instead.” • Jan L. Hansen

How About You?

How do you react if things don’t go the way you’d like? Do you patiently trust God to work things out in His own timing—or do you try to do things your own way? Remember that God loves you and knows what’s ahead of you in life. Trust Him to be with you when you face difficulties and to work out everything—big or small—for your good. His way is always best.

Today’s Key Verse:
Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

God’s ways are best