God works in mysterious ways

Meanings

1. Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.
2. Commenting on a situation that has led to some unexpected outcome in a surprising or convoluted way.
3. Commenting that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.

Etymology

Possibly originating from a poem by William Cowper (floruit 1731–1800), whose first stanza reads: God moves in a mysterious way / His wonders to perform; / He plants His footsteps in the sea / And rides upon the storm. Despite the late attestation, the general sentiment of the phrase does hold apparent wide-ranging and prehistoric theological currency.