Mysterious Ways

There is a hymn composed by Willam Cowper that is entitled, "God Moves in Mysterious Ways."  While those words are not found directly in Scripture, we can know that He is at work - as a more recent song suggests, "...even when you can't see Him, He's working..."  We may have our own preconceived ideas about what is occurring in a situation, one that has a seemingly negative outcome for us, but we also can recognize that God operates on a different timetable.  Isaiah 58 (ESV) contains these words:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We can trust in His higher ways.   A particular actress whose career seemed to be at a standstill just a few years ago now attributes the Lord for His faithfulness in a lawsuit against her former employer, posting on X that she's “humbled and grateful to God for His love and grace in this outcome.”   The full post was included in a Faithwire article about Gina Carano.

The article notes: "Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company settled with the former 'Mandalorian' star, who sued the two studios last year after she was fired in 2021 because she 'dared voice her own opinions' — conservative views — on social media."  Those views included opinions about COVID-19 vaccines, the riots that occurred in the summer of 2020, and transgender ideology.  So, she was fired.

And, she filed - a lawsuit.  The article relates:

In 2024, Carano sued Disney and Lucasfilm for punitive damages arising from wrongful termination and discrimination. Disney, for its part, sought to have the case dismissed, claiming the brand had a First Amendment right to disassociate from Carano and her views. Carano responded to Disney, claiming the Burbank-based brand made it clear it “will fire you if you say anything they disagree with” and will “misrepresent, malign, and mischaracterize” employees with whom it takes issue.

But, in announcing the settlement of the lawsuit, Disney and Lucasfilm stated, "Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect. With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”   The Faithwire article goes on to say: "After news of the settlement broke, Carano wrote on X: “[A]nd the truth shall set you free.”

Several months ago, according to Movieguide, Gina Carano said this to Tucker Carlson: “I’ve always been a Christian, but I never felt so much like one as I do these last few years, and it just keeps growing...”  That Movieguide article also noted that Carano posted on X in 2023, “For me, I have faith God is a just God, He hears our cries and knows our hearts. The wrath of God is what the ones doing evil unimaginable things should really be in fear of, not bombs, not human judgment, but Gods judgment.”

So, perhaps she does view her agreement with the studio partners as being an act of justice.  I totally get that.  She was certainly maligned for the expression of her opinions, and she lost a role in a popular series because of it.  But, that wasn't the end of the story - she acknowledged God's grace at work in her circumstances, and it's important that we recognize that God is faithful. but He doesn't necessarily operate how we think He should. 

We also have to remember that in our pursuit of God and His justice, that the outcome may not always be to our liking.  But, we can trust God that He is sovereign and that He is working for our good and His glory.  We are called to be faithful to Him and continue to believe by faith in a God who loves us, whom we can trust to determine the course of our life.