God’s Deep Secrets

God’s Deep Secrets

His Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. –1 Corinthians 2:10-12, 14

Significant suffering leaves us with significant questions. Before the hurt invaded our lives, perhaps we were content for our understanding of God’s sovereignty and his way of working in the world to be fuzzy. But now the issues are not theoretical. They’re very real, and we want real answers. We want the truth, not just clichés or religious-sounding pat answers. This is when we need the Holy Spirit like no other time, when we’re facing an uncertain future and trying to make sense of it all.

This is where the disciples were when Jesus explained that he was leaving them. They still had so many questions, so much they didn’t understand about who he was and why he came, and their questions created anxiety. Jesus assured them: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

Questions about the suffering in the world send so many on a search for truth. They study world religions, travel to sacred places, seek out secular saviors. But the truth—God’s wisdom and an understanding of the big picture—is not something that can be discovered with our minds. It is something that can be revealed to us only by the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit does not reveal the truth to those who are on a mere intellectual exercise without their hearts or wills engaged. God reveals himself to those who earnestly seek him. As he dwells within us and as he illumines our understanding of his Word, he helps us understand the “wonderful things God has freely given us.”

My Guide to truth, how I long to understand the big picture of what God is doing in the world and in my life. Will you share with me the deep secrets of God? Open my heart and mind to the truth that only you can reveal to me.

DIGGING DEEPER