In the rich tapestry of life, there are moments we proudly label as triumphs and others we sheepishly admit as blunders. What if I told you that many times, God’s plan thrives in what we perceive as our most ‘foolish’ decisions?
Several years ago, my local church received the surprising honor of being featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Now, one might think this resulted from meticulous planning or strategic decisions. However, in all honesty, it was birthed out of what some would call our most ‘questionable’ choices.
During college, I took what seemed to many as a bewildering detour: swapping medical school dreams for divinity studies. Later, my wife and I, both Korean-Americans, made a daring move to an African-American neighborhood, despite the layers of historical racial tension. The challenges mounted when our home became a target for crime multiple times. But, driven by a conviction I can only attribute to God’s guidance, we stayed.
This very commitment was what piqued the interest of the media. If I had chosen a more logical path or sought a safer environment, that CBS spotlight would have never found us.
Similarly, when my wife, pregnant amidst her battle with cancer, was advised to choose between her treatment and our unborn child, we leaned into our faith. Ignoring the odds, both she and our child emerged, against all human expectations, victorious and healthy.
Such choices, while seeming irrational to the world, reflect the profound wisdom of God echoed in Scripture. From the heaven-sent manna that baffled the Israelites to the perplexing strategy God gave Joshua for conquering Jericho, God’s methods often defy human logic.
Paul reminds us that God’s wisdom can seem like folly to the world, yet it’s the very essence of salvation. Our logical minds often wrestle with this Divine paradox. While the world champions conventional wisdom, Scripture illuminates a different path: one of faith, trust, and sometimes, perceived foolishness.
Think about the rich young ruler. He couldn’t fathom selling all his possessions to follow Jesus. The very idea seemed illogical, if not absurd. Yet, in declining this divine ‘folly’, he missed out on becoming a direct disciple of Christ.
This isn’t an encouragement to recklessly label every impulse as divine inspiration. Yet, it’s a call to remain open to God’s unexpected ways. Sometimes, His most profound movements come wrapped in what appears, to our human understanding, as the utterly foolish.
If all God’s plans aligned perfectly with human logic, would we ever truly learn to walk by faith? Let’s celebrate the ‘foolish’ decisions led by God, for within them, we often find the most profound revelations of His divine plan.
