We Will Understand It Better By And By

June 23rd, 2023

by Dr. J.C. House
06/23/2023

John 13:7 - “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

Suggested Reading: John 13:1-9

When the Morning Comes
Trials dark on ev’ry hand, and we cannot understand
All the ways that God would lead us, to that blessed Promised Land;
But He’ll guide us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die;
We will understand it better by and by.

Peter had protested Jesus’ plan to wash his feet and no doubt he had all the religious reasons for the resistance. Jesus told Peter, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” In other words, Peter, you will understand it better by and by.

I am old enough to know that most of us live similar lives as far as our “circumstances” are concerned. Good days and bad days, pleasant days and not-so-pleasant days, the clouds gather, the shadows come and it’s painful. We perhaps wonder, why me? If God loves me, why has this come my way? And Jesus says, “You don’t understand what I am doing now, but thou shalt know hereafter”. All our doubts and fears come because we question the will of God in our lives.

Four questions concerning God’s will for our lives will help us. They were laid out for Paul on the Damascus Road. Acts 9:6, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

1. QUESTION. WHAT?
Many have no idea what God’s will is for their life. So, question number one, Lord, what do you want me to do?
OUR DOINGS. “Arise”.

2. QUESTION. WHERE?
Where do you want me to do it?
OUR DIRECTION. “Go into the city”.

3. QUESTION. HOW?
For practical advice. “It shall be told thee”.

4. QUESTION. WHEN?
For the timing. NOW

Now watch our lesson…what, where, how, when, BUT NEVER WHY? In our lack of understanding, we do ask why, and the answer is, “You will understand it better, by and by.

THE LORD IS WORKING RIGHT NOW AND BY AND BY WE WILL KNOW IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. One day we will look back on all our trials and tests, the grief and sorrow, and we will see that what we thought was so unfair and undeserved was the best thing that ever happened in our life. 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

One day the mist will have rolled away, and we see clearly the working of the Lord. Until then, we are to trust and obey and finally come to understand that it is the Lord working a plan and purpose out with love and understanding and we can trust and rely on Him. Then we find peace and victory as we stop wondering and find it worth the wait.