You Never Know
“Jesus replied, ‘You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.’”
John 13:7 NLT
In this passage, Jesus is preparing to wash His disciples’ feet before the Last Supper. He is setting things in motion for His betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. At the same time, He is modeling for His disciples what it truly means to be His follower—a servant.
This concept was hard for Peter to grasp. “You will never wash my feet!” he declared—only to be met with a strong rebuke from Jesus. His words to Peter were true then, and they are just as true for us now:
“You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
There are many seasons in life where we don’t see what’s happening. We see the world around us, the people we interact with, and the life we’re living… but we don’t see what Jesus sees. In my own life, this has often led to questions that start with “Why?”
Why did this have to happen?
Why aren’t you doing something about this?
Why am I having to struggle through this?
I believe the same answer Jesus gave Peter is still sufficient for you and me:
“You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
This summer, my wife and I wrapped up four camps for teens and kids. It was wild! The energy, excitement, and joy found in each camp were truly unmatched. It is an honor to serve alongside the churches and ministries we partner with during what we believe is the best part of every summer.
At the start of one of our camps, I received a call from someone in child protective services. They told me that a few of our campers would return home to a very different reality after camp. Then they said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“I was able to convince the judge to let them stay. I knew they would be safe there with you, and what they would receive at camp is needed in their life.”
Here’s the amazing part: that worker was one of the first kids in our children’s ministry fifteen years ago! Jesus used a former student—someone we had poured into years ago—to advocate for children so they could have safety, security, and encounters with Him that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
You never really know what the Lord is going to do in and through your life. Whether it’s frustrations at work, confusion about life, or an unexpected blessing, we can trust that Jesus is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
We may not understand why things are the way they are—or why they were the way they were—but I am trusting and believing that someday we will. And when we do, we’ll see how it all worked together for the good. Even if it’s fifteen years later.
Prayer:
Jesus, I pray for my friends reading this today. Remind them that the investments they are making are worth it. Every relationship, every friendship, every interaction can carry divine purpose—even if we can’t see it yet. We trust You to work all things together for good. Amen.
