Day 14: God Is Wise, Never Confused, Never Late

Scripture
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33 ESV

“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.” Proverbs 3:19 ESV

Confessional Summary
The Reformers confessed God’s wisdom as part of His very being, not as a skill or ability He improves. Westminster says God is “most wise” (Westminster Confession of Faith 2.1). The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes the same truth, saying, “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 4). The Larger Catechism likewise calls Him “most wise” (Westminster Larger Catechism 7).

The Reformers also tied God’s wisdom to the way He governs all things. Westminster confesses that God “doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least,” and that He does so by His “most wise and holy providence” (Westminster Confession of Faith 5.1). It adds that God ordinarily “maketh use of means,” yet remains free “to work without, above, and against them, at his pleasure” (Westminster Confession of Faith 5.3).

The Reformers believed God never misreads a moment, never misjudges a heart, and never second-guesses His purposes. What He ordains, He orders wisely, even when His ways are beyond tracing to us.

Reflection


Sovereignty teaches that God rules. Wisdom is how He rules. Do not confuse the two, or you will measure God by your timeline instead of His counsel.

We often confuse speed with wisdom. We assume that if God were wise, He would do it now, explain it clearly, and remove every sharp edge. Romans 11 refuses that assumption. Paul does not end with an explanation but with worship, because the wisest response to the unsearchable judgments of God is reverent humility.

Proverbs 3:19 pushes wisdom even deeper. The world itself was founded by wisdom. That means God’s wisdom is not situational. It does not wake up and react. It does not scramble to fix surprises. He orders all things with settled counsel and perfect timing, even when you cannot see what He is doing.

This is why providence can feel baffling. If God’s wisdom is deeper than yours, you should expect moments where you cannot track it. But the Confession does not let you treat confusion as evidence against God. It says He governs all things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence. Nothing is too large for His counsel, and nothing is too small for His care.

Here is where we usually go wrong. We call God “late” because we assume the goal is our immediate relief. We call Him “confusing” because we assume we should be able to see the whole process. Scripture corrects both instincts. His ways are inscrutable, and that is not a defect in Him. It is a rebuke to our demand to sit in judgment over His purposes and timing.

God’s wisdom does not make your pain imaginary. It keeps your pain from becoming ultimate. You may not see the whole plan, but you can trust the One who is most wise, and you can live faithfully in the light He has already given.

Application


Name one situation you do not understand and refuse to accuse God’s character. Confess one place where you have been calling Him “late” in your heart. Ask for wisdom, then do the next faithful thing you already know to do, without demanding full understanding.

Prayer

Most wise God, steady my heart when Your ways exceed my understanding. Forgive me for judging Your timing by my fear. Keep me faithful in the light You have given, and teach me to worship when I cannot comprehend Your reasons. Through Christ. Amen.