"You Don’t Understand Right Now… But You Will” John 13:7

“You Don’t Understand Right Now… But You Will”

Grab your Bible and say this with me:

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I have what it says I have.

I can do what it says I can do.

Today I will be taught more of the Word of God.

I boldly confess my mind is alert.

My heart is receptive.

I will never be the same.

I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the Word of God.

I will never be the same.

I’ll never be the same, in Jesus’ Name.

Amen?

Amen.

Today we turn to a powerful and comforting verse spoken by Jesus during one of the most confusing moments the disciples had ever experienced:

John 13:7

“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’”

These words were spoken while Jesus washed His disciples’ feet—an act that made no sense to them. They saw a Messiah kneeling like a servant.

But Jesus wanted them to know:

Even when you don’t understand what I’m doing… I’m still working.

And later—in time, in hindsight, in God’s timing—you will understand.

This is not only a message for the disciples.

It’s a message for every believer who has walked through seasons that simply did not make sense.

-1. God Often Works in Ways We Don’t Understand at First

Peter couldn’t wrap his mind around Jesus washing his feet.

It seemed backwards… unnecessary… beneath the Son of God.

But Jesus said, “later you will understand.”

God’s work is often uncomfortable before it becomes clear

The pruning doesn’t feel like promotion.

The breaking doesn’t feel like blessing.

The waiting doesn’t feel like working.

Yet God sees what we don’t see.

Sometimes God closes a door because He sees what’s on the other side.

Sometimes God moves people out of your life because He heard conversations you didn’t hear.

Sometimes God delays something because He knows you’re not ready yet.

Just because you don’t understand it now doesn’t mean it’s not God.

2. Our Faith Is Proven in the “Not Yet” Seasons

If God explained everything, you wouldn’t need faith.

God does His deepest work when we feel the least in control.

Noah didn’t understand rain.

Abraham didn’t understand leaving home.

Joseph didn’t understand betrayal.

Moses didn’t understand the desert.

David didn’t understand running from Saul.

Mary didn’t understand carrying the Messiah.

The disciples didn’t understand the cross.

But every one of them understood later.

The season that didn’t make sense became the season that shaped them.

Whatever you are facing—hurt, loss, confusion, transition—God is not asking you to understand…

He’s asking you to trust.

3. What Jesus Was Really Teaching in John 13

Jesus wasn’t just washing feet.

He was modeling a truth:

“My work doesn’t always look like you expect…

But it is always for your good, and for My glory.”

Later the disciples realized:

He washed their feet so they would learn humility.

He served them so they would learn to serve.

He prepared them for the cross, resurrection, and their mission.

Right now, God may be washing the area of your life that makes you the most uncomfortable…

…but later you will understand why.

“The Broken Picture Frame”

A young boy named Daniel received a gift from his grandfather—a jigsaw puzzle of a beautiful mountain landscape. He loved it. But one day the frame slipped off his desk and shattered into pieces all over the floor. Daniel picked up handfuls of pieces and ran to his father in tears.

“Dad, it’s ruined! I can’t fix it. It doesn’t make sense. It’s all broken.”

The father calmly knelt down and said,

“Son, bring me the box.”

He took the scattered pieces into his hands and began quietly reassembling the frame.

Piece by piece. Corner by corner.

Daniel watched his father working—slowly, patiently—putting everything back in order.

What looked ruined from Daniel’s perspective was easily restored in his father’s hands.

After a few minutes the father said,

“There you go. It’s whole again.”

Daniel smiled and said,

“Dad… how did you do that? How did you know what to fix?”

His father replied,

“Because I made the frame. I know what it’s supposed to look like.”

That’s what God does with us.

We bring Him the pieces…

the confusion…

the broken moments…

the seasons that don’t make sense.

And the Father says,

"You don’t understand now… but I made you. And I know what you’re supposed to look like."

Whatever you’re facing today:

A relationship that broke

A prayer that hasn’t been answered

A door that hasn’t opened

A trial that won’t end

A season that feels confusing

A calling that feels delayed

Jesus is whispering the same words to you:

“You don’t realize now what I am doing,