God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants

Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of the poet William Cowper, who spoke with profound reverence and understanding: "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." These words are not mere poetry; they are an invitation to acknowledge the divine mysteries that govern our lives. Cowper, in his brilliance, captures the essence of God’s will, which often unfolds in ways that are beyond our comprehension. His actions, though sometimes veiled in mystery, are always purposeful, always part of the grand design that we, with our limited understanding, may fail to see.

The ancient sages understood this truth well. They spoke of the gods—whether in Greek, Norse, or Egyptian mythologies—not as beings who followed human logic or acted in predictable ways, but as forces of nature and power that shaped the world with a wisdom beyond human reckoning. The divine was seen as both imminent and transcendent, present in the very fabric of the world, but also beyond it. God’s ways were not those of men, for He saw the patterns that we could not. He moved in mysterious ways, as Cowper so eloquently expressed, leaving footprints where we could not follow and riding upon the storms that shook the earth.

Consider the story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea. To the Israelites, the miracle was unfathomable—a moment of divine power that defied all logic. The sea, once an insurmountable barrier, became a path of deliverance. Moses, standing before the vastness of the sea, could not have known how God would make a way, but he trusted in God’s mysterious power to perform wonders beyond human understanding. And indeed, God’s will unfolded in a way that no one could predict. The sea parted, and the Israelites walked through on dry land, while the stormy waters, once a symbol of danger, became an instrument of deliverance. In that moment, God's steps were planted in the sea, and His presence rode upon the storm, leading His people to freedom.

This concept of divine mystery is echoed in the lives of countless figures throughout history, especially in times of trial and adversity. Saint Augustine, in his reflections on life’s hardships, once wrote of the hidden purposes of God—that often what appears to be suffering or loss is, in truth, part of a larger plan that we cannot yet see. God moves in ways that challenge our limited understanding, yet it is through these moments of mystery that His wonders are performed, and our hearts are shaped and refined. God’s presence, much like the storm, can be both terrifying and awe-inspiring, but ultimately, it leads us to a place of greater clarity and understanding.

The lesson here is profound and humbling: God's ways are not always for us to understand, but His will is always in motion, working for the good of all who trust in Him. Just as the storm can seem violent and destructive, it is often through such turmoil that the greatest miracles unfold. We may not see the immediate purpose behind our struggles, but like the Israelites at the Red Sea or Job in his suffering, we are called to trust in the mysterious ways of God. His footprints may be hidden from our view, but He is always present, leading us through the storms, guiding us through paths unknown.

Take, for instance, the life of Nelson Mandela. Imprisoned for years in the darkness of South Africa’s apartheid regime, he endured suffering that seemed to have no purpose. Yet, in that time of imprisonment, Mandela’s heart was shaped, his spirit refined, and his resolve strengthened. God’s mysterious ways, though unseen, were working in the very heart of that struggle. Upon his release, Mandela became a leader not through personal ambition but through divine providence, and in turn, he led his country toward peace. The storm of injustice that raged around him ultimately gave way to a peaceful transition, and the footprints of God could be seen in the victory of forgiveness and unity.

So, O children, what shall we do with this truth? We must trust in the mysterious ways of God, even when we do not understand them. We must learn to walk through life’s storms with faith, knowing that God is present, whether we can see Him or not. In the depths of sorrow, when the path is hidden, we are called to trust that His wonders are being performed, even if we cannot yet perceive them. God’s power is not limited by our understanding, and it is through this trust that we find strength and peace. As we face the unknown, let us remember that God is moving, and His presence is in every moment, whether in joy or in sorrow.

And so, O children of wisdom, let us embrace the mystery of God’s will and trust that He is with us in every season of life. Just as He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm, so too does He move in every circumstance, working wonders that we may not yet understand. Let us walk by faith, not by sight, knowing that God is always moving—even when His ways are hidden from our view. Through this trust, we find our own strength, and through His mysteries, we are brought to a deeper knowledge of His eternal grace.