“I Am Not Skilled To Understand” - Dora Greenwell

1821–82

“God only knows. God makes his plans. The information’s unavailable to the mortal man.” You may be familiar with those lyrics from Paul Simon’s hit song “Slip Slidin’ Away.” But a century earlier, the same sentiments were expressed by an English poet named Dora Greenwell. Her poem “I Am Not Skilled to Understand” was later put to music by William J. Kirkpatrick and used widely as a hymn.

I am not skilled to understand

What God hath willed, what God hath planned.

It’s a common notion. What on earth is God doing? If only we were smarter or more spiritual, we think, we might begin to grasp the plan. But for now, for us, it’s a mystery.

This feeling often occurs in times of sorrow, as it did with Dora Greenwell. Her father’s death put the family in dire financial straits. She herself struggled with health problems. At one point she was working with disabled children, daily facing the question, Why did God let this happen?

As a writer, Dora began to focus on themes of patience and hope. We might not be able to understand God’s plans, but we can trust that he has them. When his plans for us include difficult times, we can be sure he’s not abandoning us, but that he’s giving us strength when we have none of our own left.

Yea, living, dying, let me bring

My strength, my solace from this spring;

That He who lives to be my king

Once died to be my Savior!

God’s plans for Jesus’ death on the cross might have seemed inexplicable to those who loved Jesus. His disciples, his followers, his family couldn’t understand why Jesus would have to go through what he went through. But now, much later, we see God’s plan—that Jesus died to save us. That brings us strength and solace in our own times of questioning.

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD’s thoughts?

Romans 11:33-34