Obeying God can require counterintuitive decisions. For instance, he may point out that the only person you’ve ever loved might not be good for you. Then he sits back and waits for your decision.

He sends no flash of lightning nor does he greatly influence your choice. He simply waits after giving you enough data to make an informed decision.

In my mind, I imagine what I want and what God plans for me as two worlds existing in parallel; one rarely disturbing the other and both quite legitimate. For instance, those who make money through excessive self-centric hard work and those who maintain a culture of service, will both eventually gain wealth and success. But their methodologies are different. The experiences and rewards are dissimilar. 

God’s route rarely seems to make sense initially. It’s clearer with the benefit of hindsight. On earth, output is rarely commensurate with input. The stress of doing things right doesn’t appear worth it, if you consider immediate gain alone. There’s always a cheaper and faster alternative. The promise that all accounts will finally be settled in the afterlife, is therefore a very real expectation for Christians. Like Apostle Paul said, “If there is no afterlife, then Christians are of all men, most miserable”! 

At times, God even makes impossible demands! Someone close to you dies and in your grief, God asks that you do something for him. You’re like, “God, how could you be so insensitive! I’m mourning!” It is at that point that we take offence and label God, unfair. However, in the parallel world, both items might be truly unrelated. Kind of like how in the Military, when a job has to be done, you put aside personal stuff and just get it done. That’s the unglamorous life of a soldier. However, God is far from uncaring. It is his comfort and peace that see us through tough times. 

I’ve had to grapple with counterintuitive decisions in the past. One thing I’ve learnt along the way is to confront them. The issues return until I choose – one way or another. And, I must be fully committed to my choice or I’ll second guess myself.

Oftentimes, all I can do is to let go of fear and to throw myself at the Master’s feet in humility, pleading for mercy. I set aside my intellect for his wisdom and hope everything works out for the best.

PS: For related thoughts, read Multidimensional God.