It is tempting to say that we know why God allows what he does in our lives.

A farmer’s horse ran away. The neighbors said, “Oh, what a terrible thing that your horse ran away.”

The farmer said, “You say too much. We don’t know what is good or bad in the things that happen. You should only say that I lost my horse.”

The next day the horse came back leading 11 horses right into the corral, and the neighbors said, “Farmer, now we know what you mean; how good it is your horse ran away.”

And the farmer said, “You say too much. You should only say that I have 12 horses now.”

The next day the farmer’s son broke his leg breaking those horses, and the neighbors said, “We finally understand! Those horses are bad.”

The farmer said, “Always you say too much! You should only say that my son has broken his leg.”

Soon after the country went to war and all the young men had to go fight except those with broken legs. Seeing the neighbors coming, the farmer said, “Ah—don’t say too much.”

God says, “My ways [are] higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Don’t say too much. Only say, “God sent his Son for me.” Only say, “I know God’s plan for me eternally.” Only say, “God is good and loves me no matter what I see in my life.”