God’s Thoughts and Ways | Doubting God’s Goodness (Part 5)
May 26, 2026
As a young woman, I perceived and expected God to act and think like me and like other humans. I attributed all sorts of things to God because I thought He thought like me and was motivated by self-interest like humans tend to be. I thought God was angry, tired, distant, too busy, or ready to give up on me. Surprise! He isn’t any of those things. Perhaps, I should have learned that in my childhood religious training, but I didn’t. This is how God described Himself to Moses in Exodus 35:5-7:
And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin… (AMPC)
Isaiah 55:7-9 bluntly states that God does not think or act like us.
Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon. 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (AMPC)
King David spoke of how God thinks in Psalm 103:8-13 (I would encourage you to read this whole psalm).
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always accuse, neither will He keep his anger forever. 10 He does not treat us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like a (good) father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord gives compassion to those who fear Him. (MEV)
Luckily, I do not have to worry that I am not physically beautiful. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’
I wonder what would happen if I spent the same amount of time beautifying my heart as I spent beautifying my body? I am not saying that we shouldn’t look our best. I am only wondering what the results would be if I spent an equal amount of time on my heart.
My way of doing things can’t be trusted to bring the best results. Proverbs 14:12 warns not to rely on our ways without consulting the Holy Spirit first: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. If a decision I need to make does not have a clear or obvious answer based on the Bible’s teachings, I have learned to pray about it and wait for an answer. And in Luke 11:9-10 & 13, Jesus tells us we can expect an answer from God.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (NKJV)
While humans value worldliness and fame, God values humility and obedience. The disciples once asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such little child in My name receives Me. Matthew 18:2-5 (MEV)
These are just a few examples of the many times Jesus contrasted how God thinks and acts from how humans think and act. During all my years of rebellion, I thought I was rebelling against God, but what I was really rebelling against what I perceived God to be. God thinks about me far differently than I think about me and how others might think about me. His approach is always love, mercy, and grace toward us. What a wonderful reality check!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am grateful that Your thoughts and ways are higher than mine. Give me pause when I start down the path of thinking You are just like everyone around me. Remind me of Your goodness and benefits toward me. Your Word instructs me to ask, seek, and knock. So today, please give me insight into [name thing I am worried about]. I will confidently and quietly wait for Your answer. I know You love me and You care for me affectionately and care about me watchfully. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.