The key to many of the painful or mysterious providences of our lives

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"You do not realize now what I am doing — but afterward you will understand." John 13:7

Like many of Christ's other words — this saying of His has a much wider application than its primary reference to Peter's perplexity. It furnishes the key to many of the painful or mysterious providences of our lives. We do not understand them at the time. We do not see how they can have any blessing in them for us. They seem altogether dark. But we have no right to judge of our Master's work in us, or with us — until it is finished. "You do not realize now what I am doing." How could we be expected to understand all of the Master's transcendent thoughts and plans?

Yet this is not the end. "Afterward you will understand." This mystery is to be explained. This perplexity is to be resolved into the clearness of noonday. You do not understand now — because you cannot yet see the end — you cannot perceive the blessing and the beauty. The Master Himself knows just what He is going to bring out of each of His mysterious works — and therefore He is not perplexed.

Jesus assures us that, "Afterward you will understand." We shall see the tangles resolving into lovely grace and beauty!

What is the lesson? That we should always trust God's heart — when we cannot understand His hand. No doubt, divine love and infinite wisdom has planned all His ways with us. No doubt, there is blessing in the outcome, as it lies now in God's mind. No doubt, we shall see the blessing, too, afterward!