Encouragement Can I really know it all

Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts.
Today I bring you encouragement from
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

When I tried to gain wisdom
and to observe the activity on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –
then I discerned all that God has done:
No one really comprehends what happens on earth.
Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it.
Even if a wise person claimed that he understood,
he would not really comprehend it.


Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ec 8:16-17). Biblical Studies Press.

We in our modern society place a lot of emphasis on gaining knowledge and figuring out how every thing works. With my science background I have spent a lot of time in the problem solving business and expend considerable effort making things work. These pursuits often result in lack of sleep.

Even when we stop our work, we often continue to think on the problems, either being internally tied up with how it all works or in knots fearing that we will not figure it out. If we had a good day and have figured it out the problem of the day, we then move on to worrying what we will do next. We often feel we are trapped at the center of it all and it is all on our shoulders.

This mind set can even carry over to our study of God's word and our relationship with God. We can pour over scripture over and over and then try to find proofs or historical references to capture it all and make it part of our wisdom.  We want to be able to sit down and say we have it all figured out.

But what does our text say

No one really comprehends what happens on earth.
Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it.
Even if a wise person claimed that he understood,
he would not really comprehend it.

Can we really comprehend it all?  Maybe what is important is that only in God can comprehension be found.  All that happens in this world is much larger than we can comprehend. Even if we claim we have it figured out, our view of the world, is just too small. No one can ever grasp it fully.


A long time ago I posted a link on the right side of this page  entitled

An Indescribable God - Louis Giglio

"A message that helps define just how big God is..."

If you have not had a look at it or have not viewed this video for a long time, it is worth a second look.  It is a good description of just how big God is.

Coming to terms with just how big God is and how small we are in the grand scheme of things is just so important.  We need to find places to go and put our lives in perspective. I like to go to mountains in Western Canada and hike up to the top and look out at the mountains all around me.  It helps me to realize how small I am in comparison with all that is around me.

We can seek all that God has done, but we must accept that what God does and has done is far more than we can comprehend . Through this discovery we can allow ourselves to pursue life more fully, with joy and confidence that the world and the universe is not all on our shoulders and that God is in control.  We just need to serve Him. 

Amen

Musical Encouragement:  "God is in Control - Avalon"