There was a quote at church a few weeks back that keeps popping up in my thoughts. I’m probably butchering its original eloquence but it was something to the effect of “If you knew what God knows, you would have requested the all the adversity in your life.”
The Bible is full of verses explaining that God is omniscient, has a perfect plan for each of us and everything he does is what is best for us.
- Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love, who have been called according to his purpose.”
- Romans 5:3-4: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
- James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
The list goes on and on, but it follows that if we had all that same knowledge as God, the logical best course of action would be whatever “terrible” thing that is bothering us right now. Of course we don’t have that omniscience so we can’t see the logic and intention behind it, but we trust that it’s there.
As Christians, we know all that, but I love how easily it is summed up as: “If you knew what God knows, you’d be praying for this.”
Praying For Adversity
The Bible is full of verses explaining that God is omniscient, has a perfect plan for each of us and everything he does is what is best for us.
The list goes on and on, but it follows that if we had all that same knowledge as God, the logical best course of action would be whatever “terrible” thing that is bothering us right now. Of course we don’t have that omniscience so we can’t see the logic and intention behind it, but we trust that it’s there.
As Christians, we know all that, but I love how easily it is summed up as: “If you knew what God knows, you’d be praying for this.”