The magician was truly awesome! He held the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment the houselights dimmed, playing with their emotions as deftly as a gifted musician.

"Where did those rabbits come from?"

"How did those scarves get in there?"

"That saw has to be cutting into that woman! Look where it is!"

"I can’t watch!"

His acts left them bordering on hysteria—enormously impressed, greatly amazed, completely bewildered.

But while the crowd gasped with disbelief, his assistant watched—unperturbed. And when the time was right, she played her part as she had been taught. She had seen the acts many times before; but more than that, she knew how the magician worked. She watched with great calm as the woman was "sawn in two." She counted the rabbits to be sure none of them wriggled to freedom, and she carefully folded the scarves into their hidden compartments. The acts were impressive, but she knew the magician’s ways.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.
Psalm 103:7

What’s wrong with my plan, God? It seems to me like a good way to solve the problem. But do something, won’t You? Time’s getting away from us. What good could possibly come from this? Why did You allow this to come into my life in the first place? Are You listening to me, Lord? I’ve been talking to You about this for a long, long time. Making this come out right would be such a little thing for You to do. Why do You let this continue in my life? Don’t You think it’s about time to call this situation to a screeching halt? Lord, why?

What I’m saying is, "I don’t understand what You’re doing! I don’t understand Your ways."

That’s why the children of Israel were always so discontent, isn’t it, Lord? Your acts were the sole proof to them that You were still around, and so they murmured between acts, having no idea of the amazing preparations that were being carried out during the intermission.

Lord, I want to know Your ways. I don’t want to be confused and ignorant of Your plans, controlled by fear or frustration, by pain or emotional distress. I want to watch—unperturbed—Your acts, carrying out my assignments as I have been taught—confident—helping You prepare during the intermissions, and all the while understanding Your ways. And Lord, I don’t want to change them—I really don’t.

I just want to assist You in Your very impressive program.