By Roy (Will) Pearson, The Curious Pilgrim

Mysterious Grace

One of the primary sources of truth I follow is the sacred writings. As a follower of Jesus, I consider the books of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Apocrypha to be my primary source for understanding life.

One of the principles that has shaped my faith is found in 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.”

As a Curious Pilgrim, I never cease to be amazed at how God works. I call it Mysterious Grace.

Looking back over a lifetime, I can now see how God has been at work in ways I never recognized at the time. Today that truth became clearer than ever as I gave a presentation on St. Ambrose of Milan in the Summer of Saints class at St. James Episcopal Church in Springfield, Missouri.

Ambrose was a Roman governor in the fourth century. He had no plans to become a priest, much less a bishop. When the church gathered to elect a new bishop, fierce disagreements threatened to divide the congregation. As governor, Ambrose attended simply to maintain peace and order.

His wisdom, fairness, and calm leadership impressed the people so deeply that someone shouted, “Ambrose for bishop!” The crowd agreed.

There was only one problem.

Ambrose was not even baptized.

He tried to refuse the office and even went into hiding, hoping someone else would be chosen. But God had other plans. Eventually, Ambrose accepted the call. He was baptized, ordained, became Bishop of Milan, and later was recognized as one of the first four Doctors of the Church. His preaching, teaching, writing, and hymns shaped the Christian faith for centuries. Perhaps most importantly, his influence helped lead St. Augustine to become one of Christianity’s greatest theologians.

Was God involved in making Ambrose a bishop?

I believe so.

As I reflected on Ambrose’s life, I realized how much it reminded me of my own journey. At fifteen years old, I became a pastor. Looking back now, I can see doors that I never expected God to open. Many of them were doors I would never have chosen on my own. Yet, one step at a time, God led me through them.

Most of us do not recognize God’s work while we are living through it. It often takes years—sometimes a lifetime—to look back and see the threads of grace woven through our joys, our disappointments, our detours, and even our failures.

That is why I call it Mysterious Grace.

God’s ways are higher than our ways. God’s thoughts are greater than our thoughts. We rarely understand the journey while we are walking it, but often we begin to understand it when we look back.

How has God worked in your life? What doors has God opened that you never expected to walk through?

Grace and peace,

Roy (Will) Pearson
The Curious Pilgrim