Could Your Current Struggles Be God’s Design?

By David Bates

Have you ever considered that the crazy, unexpected trials you are facing right now might actually be part of God’s design—meant to promote you, shape you, and give you a future beyond your imagination?

Scripture reminds us of this powerful truth:

Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly works in ways that contradict human expectations, timing, and strategy. His higher ways are not meant to confuse us, but to draw us into deeper trust and dependence on Him. Unanswered prayers, unexpected delays, and difficult seasons may all be part of a far greater design than we can currently see.

---

God’s Ways Often Defy Human Logic

Joseph: From Betrayal to Promotion

When God chose Joseph, He allowed betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment to come before elevation. By human logic, Joseph’s suffering looked like failure. In reality, God was positioning him to become a deliverer for nations.

While enduring hardship, Joseph surely had doubts. Yet later in life, he reached a powerful revelation when he told his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” What appeared to be devastation was divine preparation.

David: Chosen for the Heart

When God selected David as king, He bypassed older, stronger, and more impressive brothers. Samuel expected leadership to look a certain way, but God evaluated the heart, not outward appearance.

David’s anointing reveals that God’s standards of qualification are far higher than human credentials or appearances.

The Red Sea: A Way Where None Seemed Possible

When Israel stood trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, God’s instructions defied all military logic. He didn’t tell them to fight, negotiate, or retreat—He told them to move forward into what looked impossible.

The parting of the sea demonstrated a profound truth: God creates pathways where humans see only obstacles.

Gideon: Strength Reduced for God’s Glory

Gideon’s army was intentionally reduced by God until victory became humanly impossible. God removed numerical strength so that the outcome would clearly reveal His power, not human confidence.

Sometimes what feels like loss is actually divine refinement.

Elijah: God in the Quiet

The prophet Elijah encountered God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a still, small voice. While humans often expect God to move through dramatic displays, He chose quiet intimacy instead.

This moment teaches us that God’s power is not limited to our assumptions about how He should work.

---

Jesus: The Ultimate Example of God’s Higher Ways

Jesus Himself embodied Isaiah 55:9 through His life, ministry, and sacrifice. The Messiah did not arrive as a conquering king, but as a humble servant. The cross looked like defeat, yet it became the greatest victory in history.

What humanity sealed in a tomb, God transformed into the doorway of eternal life. The resurrection shattered the belief that death has the final word.

---

Trust the God Whose Ways Are Higher

The same God whose thoughts are higher than ours is also faithful and good.

Even when you don’t understand your season, you can trust the One who does. What feels confusing now may one day reveal itself as divine orchestration.