I am plagued by a failure to understand the people and events around me. My hearing loss contributes to my confusion because I don’t hear everything that is said. Having lived in another culture for an extended time also contributes as I didn’t continue moving with this culture during my absence. While other reasonable factors heighten misunderstanding, it is still frustrating to be in the dark so much of the time.
Sometimes it is also difficult for me to understand certain portions of the Bible. I study God’s Word using the resources available to me, but at times it just doesn’t make sense to me. I am comforted by the fact that the disciples didn’t always understand Jesus, even though they were eyewitnesses. John 12:16 records one such instance when it says, “His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and had been done to him.”
Understanding of the Bible comes only from revelation by God. Understanding comes in the time that God ordains and through the light He provides. We receive this light when we have hearts open to Him and are walking with Him seeking truth. Ensuring that we understand God’s truth is important enough that we must always be in the proper position and posture to receive His revelation.
Reluctant Retiree 