John 6:66-69 says, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'”

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, many were choosing to walk away. The truth being taught by the Messiah was too much, too difficult and too confusing to support for some. Somewhere, in the depths of their heart, they decided that they could no longer follow Christ on the path He was traveling. It should come as no surprise. Jesus Himself said that anyone choosing to follow Him should be prepared to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Logic and reason are enough to deduct that not all who begin will finish. Still, I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I believe most people start out with a plan to cross the finish line. Most individuals in this world understand the futility of beginning a journey with no intention of reaching that journey’s destination.

To begin anything with no intention of completion is, by most if not all accounts, ridiculously pointless. It’s as meaningless as sitting in your car with no intention of inserting the key and turning the ignition. It’s filling a washing machine with water but refusing to place the dirty laundry inside the basin. It’s cooking a meal you never eat or running a bath you never sit in. It just doesn’t make sense. Still, many in that day, chose not to finish what they started.

Thousands of years later, you and I sit in our favorite chair. We open the pages of our favorite Bible and, whether intentional or not, we cast javelins of judgment on those who are obviously clueless when it comes to follow through and seeing their commitment through to the end. Sure, they may have made some good choices along the way but serving Christ for a bit doesn’t do you much good if you walk away in the end or, in this case, before the end.

As I think on some of the situations that have developed in my own life and the lives of those we know over the last few weeks, I’ve realized that I’m not as different as those who were confused in John 6 as I thought. Simply put, sometimes I just don’t understand what’s going on. Sometimes things just don’t make sense.

Today, some 321 miles north of where we live, there will be a celebration of life that I just don’t understand. Dr. David Blair was one of the most remarkable individuals I have ever met, not only in ministry, but in life itself. Christy and I had the privilege of working South Georgia Church of God Youth Camp under Bishop Blair’s direction on multiple occasions and, during that time, we encountered an amazing man of God who had a passion for the kingdom and for people, especially young people.

The last time we worked Youth Camp with Dr. Blair, Christy and I were in charge of Canteen. Our kids were young and, if you’ve ever worked a full week of Youth Camp, you understand how long the days can be. Knowing this, Dr. Blair issued a standing invitation to our youngest child, Conner, to ride with him on his golf cart around the campground as he fulfilled his obligations and responsibilities as State Youth Director. This meant the world to Conner. A golf cart is a big deal to a 3-year-old. It also meant the world to us. They’d drop by the Canteen to check in, grab a Yoo-Hoo and head out again. It was evident that, even though it might not always be convenient or easy for him, Dr. Blair made it his mission to bring joy to the lives of others and make a difference in the world around him. And that he did.

Just this week, my family remembered one of our own who faced cancer head on. My mother’s youngest brother served God. He was faithful. He believed God for his healing. But God, in His own wisdom, chose not to heal him on this earth. He was taken at the young age of 32. He would have been 65 this past Tuesday.

It’s been 11 years since I’ve spoken with my Mom. I’ll never forget the last time I saw her alive. After sharing a meal at her home, I walked over to where she was sitting, put my arms around her, told her that I loved her and walked out. The world changes when you lose your Mom. You feel lost. You feel like something is missing all the time. You feel like there’s someone else to share news with…always.

That’s why, at least for me, it’s so hard to understand why things happen the way they do sometimes. Contrary to the opinions of many, fairytales don’t always come true. Sometimes things don’t pan out like we plan or expect or hope. Sometimes the one we know is meant for us marries someone else. Sometimes the financial plan we have falls through. Sometimes the miscarriage occurs. Sometimes addiction wins in the lives of those we love. Sometimes the one we pray for isn’t healed. Sometimes life just stinks.

It’s an unmistakable fact. We can’t control life. But there is hope. While we cannot adequately and successfully orchestrate the circumstances we face, we can control how we deal with those circumstances and that…means…everything.

My heart is heavy for many families that I know who are hurting. Many families today are wrestling with confusion. They just don’t understand why things have panned out the way that they have. I must admit I’m wrestling with some of those same emotions. Like me, many of those families know the truth of the Word of God. They know the promises God has made to those who put their trust in Him. They understand the power of prayer and the power of speaking life into situations. But, if we’re honest, if we can remove our halo for just a moment and expose the true condition of our hearts, we’ll be able to admit that, even if only sometimes, we wonder, if God is so good, then why do things happen the way that they do.

I don’t understand why God chooses not to intervene in certain situations. I don’t understand why God chooses not to answer certain prayers while answering others. I don’t understand why our faith seems to fail at times when we chose to believe the promises of God and it didn’t seem to help at all. But I do know that God has promised to never leave us. I do know that He is intimately interested and involved in the smallest details of our lives. I do know that, even when we don’t understand, God, in His infinite wisdom, is orchestrating the events of our existence for His ultimate purpose. Do I stubbornly believe those things because I was raised and taught to believe those things? Am I just a product of my surroundings? No…and the reason that I know this is because I’ve also seen God move more times than I could ever attempt to count. Still, there are things I just don’t understand. So, I’ve chosen to believe that, even when we don’t understand His decisions, He is still worthy of our faith and trust. He is still our Father and He still loves us.

Peter said something in verse 68 that is significantly important. In response to Jesus’ question, “Do you also want to go away?”, Peter answered and said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter knew that many were walking away. He knew that support was dwindling. But he also understood something that those who left did not. Peter understood that there was nothing, outside of Christ, worth pursuing.

This is the pivot point where faith takes reality head on. Yes, it is true, our prayers won’t always be answered. God won’t always do what we want Him to do or what we think He should do. We won’t always understand His methods and reasons. But He is God and we are not and, believe it or not, that is a good thing. The Bible tells us that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and that is so unlike us. We are fickle. We change with the wind it seems. But not God. God is faithful. He is always present. He is always compassionate. He is always nudging us in the direction of our destiny in Him…even when we don’t understand.

There are many who scoff and lash out at God when life is at its worst. There are those who would ridicule believers and declare that tragedies prove His nonexistence. There are cynics who believe that, if God were so good, there’d be no hunger, no murder, no crime, no hatred, no injustice, no pandemics, no untimely deaths, no problems in the world. The presence of these issues spur them on to curse God and blaspheme His name and all for the purpose of proving that God Himself is a liar. But we know better.

We’ve determined to live for Him, learn from Him, trust Him and believe in His promises, no matter what we face in this life. We’ve resolved to follow Him all the way to the end. We’ve made a decision to serve Him, even when we don’t understand the decisions that He makes. His love is strong enough to dissolve our hurts, our confusion, our pain and our problems. He alone is enough.

I’d like to encourage you today to remember that we’re not supposed to have all the answers all the time. When we get home, maybe we’ll get some answers…maybe we won’t. God alone will make that decision. Until then, there will be moments of heartache. There will be moments of confusion. There will be moments of frustration and even anger. But He has promised to be with us every step of the way. He has vowed to walk with us, hand in hand, meeting our needs and healing our hurts throughout the course of our lives. And as Peter said, now that we know that He is God, now that we know that He is faithful, now that we know that, despite our confusion, He provides understanding, now that we know that He alone has the words of eternal life, now that we know that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, where else would we go?