Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? [Romans 11:33-34 (NLT]

A simplified explanation of the “butterfly effect” is that a small change to one thing can result in a large change to a seemingly unrelated thing or condition somewhere else. In theory, the flap of a butterfly’s wing could cause a hurricane several weeks later. When we say our prayers and ask for something or someone to change, we need to remember that God is the only one who can see all of the ramifications of that alteration. While we have a very limited concept of what the future will bring, God’s view is all-encompassing. He has a perfect view of yesterday, today, and tomorrow all at once. He sees not just our lives, but all of the lives before us, with us and that will come after us. He knows exactly what will happen if he grants our prayers, not just to us but to everyone else, too.

Thank you, God, for your limitless vision and infinite wisdom when answering our prayers.