Understanding Is Not Required

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

There is an exchange between Jesus and Simon Peter in The Chosen which struck me as a profound summary of the theme of the eagerly anticipated Season 4. As has often been the case with this television series, the gospel truths which are brought to life through the creative writing, directing, and acting of the team appear at times in which they are particularly relevant to circumstances in my personal life. This year, I had delayed watching the new episodes of The Chosen until I felt the time was right. I did not know what I was waiting for, but when I found myself visiting my grandparents in a hotel room where they are spending weeks under evacuation order due to wildfires near their home, the moment presented itself.

Shortly after Jesus christens Simon as Peter “the rock” (understood by Catholics as a very significant moment in the history of the Church), Peter finds Jesus sitting alone by a fire and confronts Him on the challenge of offering forgiveness to one of the other disciples. After Jesus informs him that he must forgive seventy times seven times (i.e. infinitely) and acknowledges that this is hard, Peter queries “why does everything have to be?” Jesus piercingly responds with “man makes it much harder when he leans on his own understanding.”

Throughout the remainder of the season, the significance of the timing of Jesus’ words is made evident. He is preparing the head of His Church for the trials that are to come by revealing the necessity of faith. In this fallen world, we will often be met by hardship and difficulty, especially when we try to stay close to the truth. What the human heart often perceives as irredeemable injustice is in fact the will of God (whether His perfect or permissive will) and has the potential to lead to healing and a deeper encounter with love. Only God can view all human activity from an eternal perspective, and thus only He knows how to bring about the greatest good (salvation and blissful, loving union with Him in heaven) for each individual soul. Therefore, if we wish to have any hope of not being lost in the storms of confusion which batter our hearts in times of inexplicable sorrow or suffering, we must choose to have faith in the goodness of God; that is, we must trust in the Lord with all our hearts and accept that understanding the ways of God is neither a prerequisite nor a reward for following him.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

For 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

In Peter’s new leadership role, he is portrayed within the next several episodes as taking these words to heart and seeking to model their wisdom for the other disciples. Though he does not understand why Jesus allows tragedy and sorrow to strike the hearts of his friends, nor why the Son of God permits the religious and political leaders plotting against Him to gain the upper hand, he continues to remind the other disciples (especially Judas and Thomas, who undergo significant character development during this season) of the importance of listening, waiting, and trusting in the Lord. Unlike many of the other disciples, Peter seems to be willing to surrender his doubts rather than seeking immediate answers or explanations for that which appears confusing or unexpected. Though he asks questions which reveal his lack of comprehension of Jesus’ action and inaction, the questions are not accusatory in nature and always lead to an act of obedience even if they do not bring him the clarity he seeks.

Within some of the other interactions between characters who are hurting or confused and the God-become-man whose heart aches for them in their suffering, I sensed in this season of The Chosen that God was speaking to his people and to my heart a gentle warning. For when we do not understand the ways of God, and when we are burdened by pain that we believe he could and should have prevented, we are faced with two options. The first option is to curse God and his ways. This choice leads to death, for in it we intentionally seek to separate ourselves from the healing love and presence of our Creator. The second option is to trust in God’s goodness and love, believing that all the circumstances of our lives are opportunities and have the potential to reveal His glory, to heal the wounds of sin, and to fashion us more and more in the image of God’s love. This choice leads to life.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days.” – Deuteronomy 30: 19-20

In an unexpected turn of events (precipitated by the wildfires affecting my family, as mentioned earlier in this post), I found myself spending four days with my uncle's family in Banff, AB at the end of July. While there, I took a bus to visit Lake Minnewanka one morning and spent a few hours in peaceful prayer, contemplating the instability of the world and the recurring call to surrender my life to God in spite of the uncertainties and unknowns which lay ahead. Gazing out over turquoise waters and listening to the call of eagles and the distant voices of kayakers and children throwing stones into the lake, I was inspired to pen a poem. I feel prompted to share it with my readers here as a means of closing out this reflection on surrender and trust when facing humanity's inevitable lack of understanding of the ways of God.

 Surrendered to Love

The God who cared to artfully form

All creatures of land and sea

Who cradles creation in compassionate hands

Has a marvelous mission for me.

As surely as mountains His Majesty show

And sunsets his beauty reveals

My life, when surrendered to infinite love,

The wound of rebellion heals.

Creation is groaning, awaiting the day

When harm and destruction shall cease

Yet only man's trust in a Father who loves

Will permit this long-prophesied peace

Oh earth, how your burning and quaking and swells

Strike terror in fearful men's hearts

Yet justice and mercy can separate not

My God, how great Thou art.

Proclaim to the nations, by witness and word,

The goodness of God and his ways

For salvation comes nearer to all of mankind

When a humble soul God’s will obeys.