“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:16
Our trip to the Philippines included many foods, and one of them was durian. Durian is a crazy fruit that our missionary friend just had to show us. It is spiky, large, heavy, and a famously pungent fruit native to various areas throughout Southeast Asia, often referred to as the “King of Fruits” due to its unique flavor and aroma. It is known for its strong, sometimes unpleasant smell, which has led to bans on its consumption in some public spaces. Despite its controversial aroma, durian is considered a delicacy and is used in both sweet and savory dishes.
So here is why I share this.
Just like the durian fruit gets different reactions from various people—some love it, some do not—life can be like that too. Sometimes you and I have wonderful things happen and we are so excited, and then in talking with a friend who is going through something similar, the results are different. I do not always understand why things happen. I do not have answers for some of the ways God works. So what happens when we do not?
God has demonstrated His great love by creating, by redeeming, by His presence, and by the many examples of His provision. So His track record says He knows what He is doing. His track record always has our best interest in mind. Sometimes when it is hardest to understand is when we show that we trust Him and believe in Him. We give evidence that shows He is trustworthy. If we only believe in Him when things are going the way we want, it means we are our own god and we do not need God and that He does not know what He is doing.
The durian fruit has mixed reactions, but the various reactions to its smell do not make it a pineapple. It is a durian. And no matter what our reaction to God is, He is God.