Is it true that God works in mysterious ways?

TL;DR:

The phrase, “God works in mysterious ways,” is not in the Bible. However, it rightly captures the idea that God’s operations are most often unseen and not understood. Still God has revealed much about His character, purposes, and will through Scripture

what does the bible say?

The phrase “God works in mysterious ways” is not a Bible verse, but it captures the biblical idea that God’s plans and purposes are often beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8–9; Romans 11:33–36).

He is infinite in wisdom (Psalm 147:5) and sovereign in His rule (Psalm 103:19), and we are finite creatures with limited perspectives (1 Corinthians 13:9–10). That said, God has not left us completely in the dark. He has revealed everything we need to know for life and godliness in His Word, with His moral will being particularly crystal clear (Deuteronomy 29:29; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The mystery of God’s ways is not an excuse to ignore what He’s made known but a reason to trust Him when we do not understand something. The cross itself is a powerful example: what looked like defeat was God’s wise and merciful plan of redemption (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). God’s “mysterious” workings are never arbitrary. They flow from His character and are always just, good, and wise—even when we don’t see how circumstances can possibly work out.

from the old testament

Moses reminded Israel that “the secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us …” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Moses was saying that not all of God’s purposes are explained and, thus, are not for us to know. However, what we are supposed to know has been clearly revealed in Scripture.
God told us why we are unable to understand everything He does: “‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Because God is entirely different from His creation, we are simply too limited to comprehend His thought process.
God gave Satan permission to attack Job to prove that Job would not curse God during his pain (Job 1:12). When Job asked God why bad things were happening to him, God didn’t give a direct answer. Instead, He demonstrated His vastly superior wisdom and knowledge to show Job that he was incapable of understanding God’s thought process (Job 38–41). Job responded, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (Job 42:3).
Ecclesiastes observes our limitations: “As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). For all of our scientific advances, we still do not understand the soul or what makes a person greater than the sum of his or her parts. Solomon was reminding us that our knowledge is simply too limited to understand the infinite God.
God’s mysterious working sometimes shows up unexpectedly. While growing up, Joseph was hated by his brothers (Genesis 37:4), which led to them selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:28). However, many years later, Joseph found himself in the position to save their lives during a hard famine (Genesis 41:56–57). After the brothers were reunited with Joseph, they feared him because he was now second in command of Egypt and had the authority to kill them. Instead, Joseph understood that behind every historical event, God is at work, using even evil for good(Genesis 50:20). In his case, everything that the brothers had done was God’s way of saving His people who would eventually become the nation of Israel.

from the new testament

In Romans 11:33, Paul marvels at God's deep wisdom and plan for salvation. He explains how God used Israel’s sin to bring salvation to the Gentiles, and how this would one day lead Israel to return to Him. God's master plan has been unfolding since the beginning, revealed slowly over time and fulfilled through Jesus. Paul is in awe of how perfectly God worked it all out.
God’s way of salvation is through humble repentance, not rituals. People often prefer doing religious acts to earn salvation, but God calls for simple faith instead. That’s why the message of the cross seems foolish to the world, but it’s actually the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18–25).
God’s plan of salvation was once a mystery, but it has now been fully revealed in Jesus. Through His death, we receive forgiveness and grace. As Paul says in Ephesians 1:7–10, God made His purpose clear—to unite everything in Christ. Though some things remain mysterious, His central plan, first hinted at in Genesis 3:15, is now complete.
While we are unable to understand God, He gives us wisdom when we ask (James 1:5). The context is that when someone goes through trials we can’t understand (James 1:2–4), God will listen to our prayers for help and provide biblical wisdom to navigate life.

implications for today

Christians should neither idolize mystery nor despise it. God does not tell us everything, but He has told us everything we need. His Word reveals who He is, what He requires, and what we can expect. Just because “God works in mysterious ways,” that’s no excuse for laziness or brushing off hard questions. And it should never be a reason for disobeying what has been revealed. Rather, when we come to the edge of our understanding, we then express our humble faith by trusting that, despite God’s mysterious ways, He is a good God who only does good.

We are not called to understand everything. We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we do, we follow the well-trod path of believers who never saw their faith become sight in this life (Hebrews 11:13). God’s ways are mysterious, yes—but they are not uncertain. His promises are sure, and His character is unchanging.

understand

God’s ways are often beyond our understanding, but that doesn’t mean they are random or arbitrary.
While God hasn’t revealed everything, He reveals all we need.
Christians are called to trust God even when we don’t understand, knowing His mysterious ways are always purposeful.

reflect

What helps you hold on to trust in God when His ways feel unclear or difficult to understand?
How do you respond when God’s plan takes a turn you didn’t expect or desire?
What have you learned about God’s character through a season of mystery or waiting?

engage

What insights can we gain from stories like Job or Joseph when trying to understand God's mysterious ways?
How does the balance between what God has revealed and what He keeps hidden shape the way we study Scripture and follow Him?
How can the truth that “God’s ways are higher than ours” help us respond to suffering or uncertainty with faith instead of fear? What truths can we hold onto when we don’t understand what God is doing?