Trust Beyond Understanding (John 13:7)

Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
– John 13:7

Wow, this verse is so good and it applies in a particular way here in John 13:7 to Peter. As Jesus’s washing Peter’s feet or expressing a desire to do that. And Peter’s saying, “You’ll never wash my feet”. And Jesus looks at him and he says, “You don’t understand what I’m doing right now, but one day you’re going to understand”. That truth applies in so many different ways, doesn’t it? There are many things that God does in our lives that we don’t understand. But just think about this reality. Jesus looking into Peter’s eyes saying, “You don’t understand now, but one day you’ll understand”.

John 13:7 teaches us to trust when we don’t understand.

And I just think about all the hard things that we may walk through in our lives here, and one day we’re going to be in Heaven. And I don’t think God is going to look at us and say, “You know what happened back then that you didn’t understand? Yeah, I don’t know what that was about”. We know God is all-wise, he’s all-powerful, he’s all-loving, he’s always working for our good. And I’m not saying that once we get to Heaven, we’re going to be omniscient like God, that we’re just going to know everything.

But I do believe that when we get to Heaven one day and God has wiped away every tear from our eyes, we’re going to look back and we’re going to have a lot more understanding than we do right now. And so I want to encourage you today, even as an encouragement to my own heart that I need. That we may not understand everything that’s happening around us right now, or happening in the world for that matter, happening in our worlds, and the people who mean a lot to us. We may not understand now, but one day we’ll understand.

John 13:7 directs us to rely on God’s wisdom.

And so let’s press in with faith today, and let’s pray in all the ways God’s Word leads us to pray. Let’s do so with trust that Jesus, just like he said this to Peter, he knows things we don’t know, he sees things we don’t see, he understands things that we don’t yet understand.

And so we pray, oh God, we trust in you. Putting ourselves in Peter’s shoes here, or even as his sandals are coming off to be washed by Jesus. Lord, we say with Peter, we don’t understand why this is happening or why that is happening or what you are doing, but we say in prayer right now, oh God, we trust in you. We praise you for your infinite wisdom, your perfect wisdom. Lord, we praise you for your infinite, perfect love for us, your care for us.

We praise you for your infinite power, that there’s nothing that you do not have power over for your authority, for your sovereignty over all things. And God, we praise you for your promise that we stand on right now, that you are trustworthy, that we can trust in you with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, that as we keep our eyes on you, you’ll make our path straight.

This verse assures us that God is in control.

We trust, oh God, that you are working all these things together for our good, conformity to the image of Jesus, for our glory in Jesus. And so God, we say we look forward to understanding more, but we confess our lack of understanding, and we trust in you, the One who has all understanding. Oh God, help us. Help us to trust in you. And God to encourage others with this reality, that in this world, things are not random.

That you are in control, and you are good, and you are loving. And for all those who trust in you, this story will end with you wiping tears from our eyes, and praising you for your justice, and your goodness, and your wisdom, and your love, and your power as it has been working in our lives. So God, help us to encourage other brothers and sisters in Christ with who you are today, help us to lead others to who you are. We pray for the spread of who you are among the nations.

Prayer for the Adamawa Fulani People

We pray specifically today for the Adamawa Fulani people of Nigeria. Please, oh God, for 2 million people who don’t have this hope that we have in you through Jesus, the resurrection and the life, we pray that the Adamawa Fulani people would be reached with the hope of Jesus.

And God, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are working to share the gospel and who are facing so much suffering, and persecution, and death as they do. God, please grant them renewed hope today as they follow after you, as they give their lives making you known. Please strengthen the Church in Nigeria for the spread of the gospel, for the spread of your hope in Nigeria. We pray all this according to your word in John 13:7, which we love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.