By Caro June 30, 2023
In our human and limited vision, we often forget that the definition that God gives to certain notions is very different from ours. It is when we consult the “divine dictionary” that we find the right balance.
Parents do not think like children. The child thinks having a puppy will be fun, while the parent considers the price of food, the time to invest in caring for it, etc. Since the child does not think like an adult, they can be angry when their father says no. They may believe that their parents do not like them or that they are killjoys. Likewise, God does not think like us. “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” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV). As a child of God, we want many things that seem right to us, and we are also sometimes angry at our Heavenly Father’s response. Or sometimes God answers our needs, but not in the way we imagined, so we don’t realize that He answered us. As the Jews did not realize that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for a long time because they were looking for a different kind of savior.
We will never be able to fully understand God, but we can take the time to meditate on his Word to realize that some gifts from God are very different from what we think. Here are some examples.
The peace
For most of us, having peace means a day at the spa. A little soft music, a calm flow of water, no conflict or worries. We then believe that it is impossible to feel peace in the midst of the storm. Yet Jesus slept peacefully in a boat on a stormy sea (Matthew 8:24). He also says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV). We can feel true peace when we consult the divine dictionary. Peace is not calm; peace is knowing that God is in control and almighty.
Joy
If you search for photos depicting joy, you will find images of laughter, gifts, and sports victories. It is the human version of joy. That’s why we sometimes see Christians with defeated faces in adversity, and single people depressed because they are alone. Yet the apostle Paul reminded the early church that we can always be happy. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NIV). He was saying this to a church that was experiencing terrible persecution. How can we be joyful when we risk being arrested and put to death at any moment? Consulting the divine dictionary that tells us that joy is knowing that we are already victorious, that eternal life awaits us, and nothing can separate us from this wonderful destiny.
Success
According to the world, success is being married and having brilliant children, having a good job that brings in a lot of money and material goods like a house, a car, etc. Until we have that, we think we don’t have a life of success. Yet Jesus had none of that, and would you dare say He didn’t have a life of success? Of course not. According to the divine dictionary, success is to do the will of God, to put our talents at the service of the Kingdom of God. Success is staying true and obedient to our Lord. “His master replied: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21 NIV).
Read the Bible and update your divine dictionary. How does it describe prosperity? What is love, and marriage? What is God’s definition of rest? We often waste our time and our sanity on all kinds of useless quests. Everything we need is within our reach, in the hands of God. Instead of insisting in our prayers for a particular thing, perhaps a simple consultation of the divine dictionary will answer our problem.