Isaiah 55:8-9 – "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)

For my granddaughter's fourth birthday, we went to Jurassic Forest, a theme park about 45 minutes from our new home. As we walked along the various paths searching out and discovering life-sized, animated replicas of numerous dinosaurs, I noticed something else. The whole area was built on a woodland swamp. The paths were raised boardwalks above the swampy water, while the woods lent the perfect staging place for the lifelike dinosaurs. The boardwalk also sported information signs and pictures of resident plants, insects, and small mammals that thrived within the swampy area.

Wow! I thought to myself. Where most people would have written off this property as basically useless wasteland, one person had seen a much higher and wider vision. What was useless to most was a marvellous opportunity to another.

Sometimes, we, too, can see our own situation or a situation which lies ahead of us only as difficult, useless, or hopeless: a swampy, unappealing wasteland of life which we wish we could navigate around, over, or under. God, however, is calling us to go through it. With the guidance of His Holy Spirit, Who is able to give wisdom freely to all who choose to call upon Him for help, we, too, can have our hearts, minds, and eyes opened to see opportunities which we may never have seen before to learn and grow and shine for God's kingdom as we are led to think outside the often narrow box of humanity and discover a whole different way of looking at our situation: God's way.

Let us therefore endeavour to be prepared to have our thoughts, ideas, and ways stretched by the One Whose thoughts are not our thoughts, and Whose ways are not our ways. By so doing, our swampy situations may become magnificent opportunities that will change for the better not only our lives but also the lives of those around us, who will be amazed and encouraged to see just what God is able to accomplish amid the most unlikely situations.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that when we are stumped, when we don't know what to do amidst swampy situations, You do, and You are able and willing to assist us by opening our hearts and minds to ways that we have never thought of or even dreamed about. Help us to remember this and to be quick to turn to You to see opportunities instead of wastelands. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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