Three Sisters Mountains, Sisters, OR
Isaiah 55:8-11 ISV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For just as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there without watering the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
yielding seed for the sower and bread for eating,
11 so will my message be that goes out of my mouth—
it won’t return to me empty.
Instead, it will accomplish what I desire,
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
There are an estimated 7,100 languages in use today, but unfortunately I am only proficient in one. Depending on the assessment used, there are 5, 7, or 10 love languages, and I’m pretty sure I’m only proficient in one there as well. I am reminded of this when I hear Isaiah 55:8, because my husband’s ways are not my ways. Ironically, we both express love with acts of service. I fold laundry and pack lunches, while he replaces my windshield wipers and washes my car. But we neither receive love in the same way we express it. He likes physical touch like sitting on a love seat together instead of recliners or holding hands while watching TV. Now I like to spend time together on a special trip or going to an event together. You know, one on one time together, but not at home where dishes and vacuuming beg to be done. So, when I’d like to go to a festival and he hauls out the hose and wash bucket, I have to remember that his ways are not my ways. I have learned to appreciate and love his acts of love.
This is such a valuable a reminder of love to me when I want to cry out, “Why God? Why? Why? Why?” God’s perspective is lofty, omnipotent, and perfect. My perspective is mostly horizontal, faulty, and selfish. Isaiah 55: 8-11 continues as a reminder that God provides and God succeeds. He never makes mistakes. So even if he doesn’t accommodate my immediate wish, just because I want it, He does what is best for me. He continues to lead and guide me to achieve the purposes He has designed for me as long as I am willing to receive in His Love language.
