theological quote

Howard Thurman on Mystery and Trust - Black Church (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Source: Howard Thurman46 words

"God's ways are not our ways—and this is hope for the disinherited. Human ways crush; God's ways liberate. What seems defeat may be victory; what seems ending may be beginning. The oppressor cannot predict God; His thoughts overturn expectations." — Howard Thurman. Black Church: liberating mystery.

Topics & Themes

mysterydisinheritedliberateoverturnhope

Scripture References

Isaiah 55:8-9

Emotional Tone

hopejoyawe

Audience

adults

Powered by ChurchWiseAI

This illustration is a preview of what our AI-powered ministry platform can do. ChurchWiseAI offers a full suite of tools built for pastors and church leaders.

Sermon Companion

Build entire sermons with AI — outlines, illustrations, application points, and slide decks tailored to your tradition.

Ministry Chatbot

An AI assistant trained on theology, counseling frameworks, and church administration to help with any ministry question.

Bible Study Builder

Generate discussion guides, devotionals, and small group materials from any passage — in minutes, not hours.

Try any app free for 7 days — no credit card required.

Get Started

More Illustrations for Isaiah 55:8-9

4 more illustrations anchored to this passage

🕊️prayerUniversal

Prayer in the Midst of Uncertainty

Sovereign God, when I cannot see Your purposes, help me trust Your presence. You who work all things together for good— even this confusion, even this waiting— teach me to rest in what I cannot under

sovereigntytrustuncertaintyRomans 8:28
🎬movie analogyUniversal

The Pursuit of Happyness: He Will Direct Your Paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)

In The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner invests his last $250 in a bone density scanner—a gamble that leaves him homeless with his son. Everyone thinks he's foolish. But he sees a path no one else

trustvisionperseveranceProverbs 3:5-6
💬theological quoteReformed

Walter Brueggemann on Subversive Transcendence - Progressive (Isaiah 55:8-9)

"God's thoughts subvert human assumptions—especially assumptions of the powerful. Our 'common sense' often serves empire; God's ways overturn it. His thoughts judge our nationalism, our economics, our

subvertpowerfulempireIsaiah 55:8-9
adults
💬theological quoteContemplative

Bill Johnson on Accessing Higher Thoughts - Charismatic (Isaiah 55:8-9)

"God's thoughts are HIGHER—but He wants to SHARE them! Through the Spirit, through prophecy, through revelation, we access HEAVEN'S perspective! Don't stay limited to natural thinking—press into the S

highershareSpiritIsaiah 55:8-9
adults

Related Illustrations

🕊️prayerUniversal

Prayer of St. Symeon the New Theologian

orthodox invocation prayer by Symeon the New Theologian

lightmysteryresurrection
🧘spiritual disciplineUniversal

Solitude and Silence: Isaac of Nineveh on Silence and the Soul

Teaching on Solitude and Silence from Isaac of Nineveh: Isaac of Nineveh on Silence and the Soul

deep silencewondermysteryPsalm 62:1-2
🎬movie analogyUniversal

Forrest Gump: The Feather and Providence (Proverbs 16:9)

The feather drifts through the opening and closing of Forrest Gump—carried by winds it cannot control, landing where it will. Forrest wonders: "I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all

providencedestinysovereigntyProverbs 16:9
🎬movie analogyUniversal

Life of Pi: Stories We Need to Survive (Hebrews 11:1)

In Life of Pi, a young man survives 227 days adrift in the Pacific with a Bengal tiger. Or does he? The film ends with Pi asking which story the writer prefers—the fantastic one with the tiger, or the

faithdoubtsurvivalHebrews 11:1
🎬movie analogyUniversal

No Country for Old Men: You Can't Stop What's Coming (Job 38:1-7)

Anton Chigurh moves through the film like a force of nature—unstoppable, indifferent, determined by a logic beyond human understanding. Sheriff Bell, nearing retirement, cannot make sense of the viole

evilmysterytheodicyJob 38:1-7
🎬movie analogyBaptist

The Tree of Life: Divine Economy Working All Things - Orthodox (Romans 8:28)

Malick's The Tree of Life moves between cosmic creation and family grief—vast divine economy incorporating all things. Orthodox theology sees Romans 8:28 within divine economy (oikonomia): God's provi

divine economycosmic restorationoikonomiaRomans 8:28
adults
Back to all illustrations