The idea that God works in “mysterious ways” is a common saying among Christians. It expresses the belief that God’s plans and purposes are often beyond human understanding. The Bible affirms that there are depths to God’s wisdom and knowledge that are unsearchable and unfathomable to the human mind (Romans 11:33-34). However, Scripture also teaches that God has chosen to reveal aspects of Himself and His workings to humanity. While God’s ways surpass human reasoning, He graciously discloses glimpses of His activity and will through Scripture, spiritual wisdom, and everyday experiences. What does the Bible teach about this important topic?
God’s ways are higher than our ways
Several passages in Scripture reveal that God operates on a plane far above the limits of human logic and imagination. Isaiah 55:8-9 declares, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares 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.” Humans cannot fully grasp the eternal, infinite mind of God. His perfect knowledge and grand purposes extend well beyond what people can conceive. In Romans 11:33-34, the apostle Paul exclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?'” Paul is awestruck at the unsearchable riches of God’s wisdom and ways. God’s dealings with humanity contain untraceable dimensions that cannot be reduced to human explanations.
Proverbs 20:24 reiterates this: “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?” People cannot make sense of all their experiences in life. But the Lord oversees human affairs with purposes higher than people realize. God’s supervision operates invisibly behind the scenes in everyday events. His ways are often veiled mysteries to those experiencing them in the moment. But one day, God’s children will understand how He wisely directed each step (1 Corinthians 13:12). For now, believers walk by faith, trusting in God’s higher knowledge and goodness (2 Corinthians 5:7).
God reveals glimpses of His mysterious workings
While God’s ways are loftier than human comprehension, the Bible also teaches He discloses portions of His will and work to those who seek Him. Deuteronomy 29:29 notes, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” God keeps certain matters to Himself. But He also reveals His truth so people can know Him and walk in His ways. Scripture illuminates many of God’s actions in history and insights into His character. Through His Word, God discloses glimpses of His mysterious workings behind human affairs.
Furthermore, God imparts spiritual wisdom to those who sincerely petition Him for understanding (James 1:5-6). The Holy Spirit teaches believers and guides them into truth, though always imperfectly due to human finitude (John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 13:9). By regularly immersing themselves in Scripture, believers gain “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). This allows them to begin recognizing the hand of God in everyday circumstances. Spiritual wisdom helps believers identify occasions when God orchestrates the unforeseeable or brings good from harm. As Christians mature in Christ, they become trained to discern God’s mysterious providence. However, Paul says Christians currently “see in a mirror dimly” and know only “in part” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Mature believers still see the workings of God’s ways through a glass darkly.
Examples of God working in mysterious ways
The Bible contains many examples of God working in ways that humans cannot fully comprehend. His ways often appear mysterious from an earthly vantage point. Yet glimpses of His hidden purposes eventually come into focus.
The Old Testament character of Joseph powerfully demonstrates this. After being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph endured many hardships (Genesis 37:12-36). He was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and unjustly imprisoned (Genesis 39:7-20). But later, Joseph came to understand God orchestrated these injustices to place him in the position to save Egypt and his family from a severe famine (Genesis 45:5-8). At the time, Joseph could not have grasped how God was mysteriously working through his adversity. But in retrospect, he saw glimpses of God’s hidden purposes.
The apostle Paul’s life similarly demonstrates this principle. God mysteriously blinded Paul on the Damascus road to get his attention (Acts 9:1-9). This drastically redirected Paul’s life from persecuting Christians to becoming the greatest missionary for the gospel. At the time, Paul could not have grasped why God allowed him to be struck blind. But through this hardship, God furthered His mysterious plans to spread the good news of Christ across the Gentile world. Through painful trials, God transformed Paul into a chosen instrument to carry the gospel to surrounding nations (Acts 9:15-16).
The death of Jesus provides the preeminent example of God working in perplexing ways. To human eyes, the unjust crucifixion of the Son of God appeared to contradict God’s mysterious purposes (Isaiah 55:8-9). But Scripture reveals God secretly worked through Christ’s death to offer salvation, justification, and redemption to all who believe (Romans 3:21-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21). What appeared as an unjust tragedy was actually the fulfillment of God’s mysterious plan from before the creation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20).
How should Christians respond?
How should believers respond when God seems to be working in unclear or painful ways? First, Christians can take comfort that God is sovereign over all circumstances and intricately involved in their lives (Romans 8:28). Even when events make little earthly sense, God has not abandoned His children. Rather, He mysteriously works through all situations to ultimately accomplish His loving will for their lives.
Secondly, Christians must walk by faith when encountering God’s perplexing providence. His ways often defy human logic in the moment. But believers can trust that God has supreme knowledge of the future and is working justly and wisely. Christians can rely on God’s faithfulness and goodness even when circumstances feel overwhelmingly confusing (1 Corinthians 1:9, Psalm 136:1).
Lastly, believers must cling to the hope that one day they will fully understand God’s mysterious workings. In glory, the veil will be lifted from their eyes. Then they will comprehend God’s wise and loving purposes in trials that once seemed senseless. This future hope sustains Christians in the midst of confusing seasons (Romans 8:18).
God’s mysterious ways reveal His unfathomable wisdom
The fact that God works in such mysterious ways beyond human understanding reveals His unfathomable wisdom (Psalm 92:5-6). God declares: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). The Lord operates on a plane far beyond the reach of human logic and reason. His purposes extend to infinity. This reflects His omniscience and magnificence (Psalm 139:6).
Yet amazingly, God chooses to unveil aspects of His mysterious workings to His children. While His ways surpass human comprehension, He graciously discloses glimpses of how He governs the universe and guides believers’ lives. Christians can rejoice that the Lord entrusts them with inside knowledge of His grand designs (Matthew 13:11). As they study Scripture, God enlightens their minds to understand His mysterious ways on a level that unbelievers cannot. What a blessing it is to be privy to the deep secrets of the Almighty (Psalm 25:14).
The highest wisdom anyone can attain is fearing the Lord and keeping His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Christians grow in wisdom as they gain insight into God’s mysterious ways through Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s teaching. This wells up gratitude and reverence for the Lord’s infinite understanding and flawless plans. Though still seeing dimly, God enables His children to begin tracing the fingerprints of His unseen hand in everyday circumstances (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This gracious revelation humbles believers and spurs them to renewed awe and obedience. Even angels long to look into the mystery of God’s glorious gospel (Ephesians 3:8-10, 1 Peter 1:12). How remarkable that Christians are granted insider glimpses into these divine secrets.
The highest wisdom anyone can attain is fearing the Lord and keeping His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Christians grow in wisdom as they gain insight into God’s mysterious ways through Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s teaching. This wells up gratitude and reverence for the Lord’s infinite understanding and flawless plans. Though still seeing dimly, God enables His children to begin tracing the fingerprints of His unseen hand in everyday circumstances (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This gracious revelation humbles believers and spurs them to renewed awe and obedience. Even angels long to look into the mystery of God’s glorious gospel (Ephesians 3:8-10, 1 Peter 1:12). How remarkable that Christians are granted insider glimpses into these divine secrets.
Trusting God’s mysterious providence
Because God works in such deep and marvelous ways, Christians can have full confidence in His mysterious providence. Even when circumstances make little earthly sense, believers can rest in the knowledge that God is subtly orchestrating all things for their ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Joseph came to realize this truth after enduring unjust treatment in Egypt. He told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph could trust God’s mysterious providence despite the evil plans of others. What appeared as senseless harm was actually part of God’s hidden purposes.
Similarly, Christians today can have faith that God mysteriously works through their pain, confusion, and heartache to accomplish His wise and loving will. The Lord promises: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8). Believers can rely fully on God’s mysterious guidance and oversight. Through prayer, the Scriptures, and spiritual counsel, Christians gain wisdom in discerning God’s hand at work in unforeseeable circumstances. This equips them to cooperate with His mysterious plans and find meaning amid earthly chaos.
In darkness and adversity, believers must cling to God’s perfect faithfulness and goodness. His mysterious ways are always motivated by unwavering love and working on behalf their ultimate joy (Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 30:5). Christians can confidently pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). As believers yield their lives to the Lord, He mysteriously shapes their character and guides their steps according to His flawless will. Through eyes of faith, they can trust His mysterious workings during seasons of hardship and confusion.
God’s mysterious ways in salvation
One of the most awesome displays of God’s mysterious workings is in the salvation of sinners. Scripture reveals that God mysteriously designed redemption before the world began to magnify His grace and glory in Christ (2 Timothy 1:9-10, Ephesians 1:3-6). The infinite mind of God conceived this gracious plan outside of human comprehension. The mystery of the gospel had been concealed for ages but is now revealed in Christ (Ephesians 3:1-9).
From a human perspective, the saving work of Christ turns worldly wisdom upside down (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). To unbelievers, it seems foolishness that God would become a man and die brutally to redeem sinners. But God mysteriously used Christ’s atoning death to open the way of salvation for all who believe (1 Peter 1:18-21). In divine wisdom, God chose the apparent foolishness of the cross to shame human pride and glorify His grace. His mysterious ways in salvation humble mankind and exalt His power and mercy.
Furthermore, Scripture teaches that regeneration is a mysterious, Spirit-empowered change that humans cannot control or take credit for (John 3:8, Ephesians 2:1-5). The new birth in Christ results from the unseen, mysterious work of the Holy Spirit applying the gospel message to sinners’ hearts. Through the mystery of the new birth, God draws His chosen people to put their faith in Christ (John 6:44, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Salvation relies wholly on God’s mysterious grace, not human effort or will (John 1:12-13, Romans 9:15-16). Christians stand in awe of God’s mysterious mercies in opening blind eyes, softened hearts, and granting repentance and faith in Christ.
Believers can rejoice that God mysteriously chose and called them for salvation before time began (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 1:9). He predestined them for adoption according to the gracious counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:4-5). This confounds human logic, which assumes people save themselves through good works. But Scripture reveals salvation is entirely God’s mysterious work of grace start to finish. Christians did not choose Christ; He chose and redeemed them according to His eternal purposes (John 15:16). What an inspiring, humbling, and worshipful truth.
Waiting on the mystery to be revealed
As believers encounter God’s mysterious providence, they can take comfort in knowing His veiled workings will not remain hidden forever. The day is coming when God will lift the curtain and explain the meaning of circumstances that now confound their finite minds. In glory, Christians will fully know God’s mysterious ways in their lives and exclaim, “So that’s why!”. God’s dazzling wisdom will become clear, vindicating His mysterious plans.
The apostle Paul looked forward to that coming day of revelation. He wrote, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Christians currently grasp only fragments of God’s mysterious ways. But a time is coming when they will comprehend fully, even as God comprehends them. What an astonishing, joyous revelation that will be!
Until that day arrives, believers walk by faith in God’s mysterious workings, trusting His unseen purposes are good and wise (2 Corinthians 5:7). Christians can rest in the Lord’s sovereignty, believing He will someday make plain the significance of circumstances that now seem nonsensical. Joseph confidently told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Though harsh trials made little sense at the time, Joseph waited patiently on God to uncover His redemptive purposes. So too, believers today can wait upon the Lord, whose mysterious plans will prove perfectly loving and perfectly wise in the fullness of time (Isaiah 25:1).
Conclusion
The ways of God are indeed marvelous and mysterious, far surpassing human understanding. His thoughts extend to infinity and His ways confound earthly logic. Yet amazingly, God discloses glimpses of His mysterious workings to His children through Scripture and spiritual wisdom. As believers encounter confusing providence, they can rest in God’s unwavering goodness and trust that His baffling ways will prove perfectly wise and loving when fully revealed. Until that day, Christians can walk by faith, waiting patiently on the mystery to unfold.