Problem SolvingSample

Insoluble Problems

What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted - Eccl 1:15

We have a tendency to think that we are all-knowing because God created us with intelligence that is far greater than that of all other creatures on earth. It is God Who has given us the ability to be problem solvers. We are fulfilled when our minds are exercised. We are frazzled when we are unable to solve all the problems that are around us. We take pride in assuming that we are able to solve the mysteries of the universe.

However, there are many perplexing questions for which we do not have answers. Most of life’s problems will not disappear because of our capacity to think. Relationships cannot be restored by reasoning. Miracles cannot be rationalized with experiments. Love cannot be understood by accumulating knowledge. The marvels of nature cannot be explained by close observation. Life and death will remain a mystery to our finite minds. Are we willing to accept the fact that we cannot solve all our problems?

The author of this proverb reminds us that there are some problems that cannot be solved by man. God reserves the right to keep some answers to Himself. He chooses to not reveal everything to us. In His wisdom, God's choice is to keep some truths hidden from us for our own good. Someday, we will know the answers to all our questions and in the meantime, we must trust God for solutions to some of our problems.

We struggle with this fact until we realize that the inability to know all things helps to build faith. As we accumulate more knowledge, we tend to struggle more with the fact that we cannot understand everything and that our ability to solve problems is limited. As the saying goes, the more we learn, the less we know.

A problem that cannot be solved is an opportunity to realize our finiteness and to draw closer to God Who is omniscient – all-knowing.

Oh God, You are omniscient. I am not. Give me the wisdom to know the difference and to accept it wholeheartedly. Amen