Better Understanding

“’What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand later.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Never shall You wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no place with Me.’”—John 13:7–8 NASB

The son of slaves, Charles Albert Tindley taught himself to read and write and earned a divinity degree through a correspondence course. He worked as a janitor at Calvary Methodist Church in Philadelphia while attending night school, and in 1902, he became the pastor of that same church. At the time of his death, that church had 12,500 members.

Tindley knew that we all go through uncertainties and problems, but God has everything under control. In 1905, he wrote a hymn about what God had taught him, “We’ll Understand It Better By and By.”

We may be tossed and driven “on the restless sea of time,” but someday, “when the mists have rolled away, we will understand it better by and by.” He knew that someday “when the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story of how we’ve overcome.”

Meanwhile, on our earthly journeys, we need to learn to trust God and His Word. We may encounter trials, but we need to have faith that God will guide us. We may be tested and face temptations and hidden snares, but eventually God will reveal the purpose of every situation we face.

You may have questions and face uncertainties that may not make sense. But be confident that God knows what you are going through. Commit your life to Him. Trust Him and continue to obey and serve Him. You will understand everything by and by.

Reflection Question: Reflect on puzzling circumstances.