“God works in mysterious ways”

The remark made by the Nurse I was working with, after explaining the devastating situation of one of our patients. Only in his thirties, and now diagnosed with an astrocytoma, severely affecting the functioning of his brain. That Nurse first started working on this neurosurgical ward in the 1980s, and has seen few patients able to return to their “normal” life again. That, plus a 15 year stint of prison nursing during the Troubles - he’s seen his fair share of suffering and injustice.

This Nurse wasn’t a Christian himself - but his observation was right. God does work in mysterious ways, ways that I can’t and I don’t understand.

My Old Testament reading for today was from Micah:

“But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan...” (4:12)

You’re right, Lord.

But I find some comfort in the New Testament passage for today:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Father, give us faith to hope in what we cannot see. You are no stranger to suffering and injustice.