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Many times in life we do not see God working. We live in a physical world, and it is so easy to forget that God is still at work even when His hand is unseen. Though we may know intellectually that God is in control and that He is orchestrating all events and circumstances to accomplish His perfect will, our hearts can still grow discouraged. |
God knows exactly when we need encouragement and how to reveal His love and care for us. Sometimes He reassures us through His Word or through a fellow believer. Other times, He makes His presence unmistakably clear through an event.
As I have grown in the Lord, He has taught me to recognize His handiwork more and more. And when I see Him at work, I get excited. Ps 103:7 says:
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
If we are open to the Lord and hungry for Him, He will reveal Himself to us—not only what He does, but how He works—His ways.
The Israelites witnessed God’s obvious miracles: the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and His continual provision of food, water and guidance in the wilderness. Yet they repeatedly complained and struggled to trust Him. Why? I believe, in part, it was because they did not desire a relationship with Him the same way Moses did. They were primarily interested in having their needs met. In other words, they were self-focused.
God desires a personal relationship with each of us. He wants to be known and loved for who He is, not merely for what He does for us. Since one can only act according to true character, getting to know someone reveals how they will act. Because God is good, He can only do good (Ps 119:68). Because God is love (1 Jn 4:8), He can only act in love. Because God is just (Ps 99:4), He can only act justly. You get the idea.
Therefore, if you want to know God’s ways and increasingly recognize His hand at work, get to know Him—truly know Him.
Let me share a personal example of His care from years ago.
During a season when I was feeling unsettled and discouraged, dark thoughts began to creep in—very unlike me at that point in my walk with the Lord. I believe it was a subtle attack from my adversary. One evening, as I was preparing to turn in early, a sister in Christ called me completely out of the blue. She had been out of town for several weeks helping her mother, so the timing was entirely unexpected.
She is a strong, faith-filled believer, and she needed encouragement as well. The Lord had prompted her to call. As we talked, we mutually strengthened one another in the Lord. Almost immediately, I recognized what was happening—it was my kind and tender Father watching over me—and her.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude. To someone else, this might not appear to be a remarkable miracle. But to me, it was significant. Whenever I see God working—whether in quiet, easily overlooked ways or in dramatic ones—I consider it a miracle.
My prayer is that you, too, will keep your eyes open to recognize the Lord your God working on your behalf and for His glory.
Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
(Ps 77:13-14)
If this post resonates with you, my latest book, Seeing God Everywhere, explores this very theme—learning to recognize God’s presence and activity not only in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary moments of everyday life. My prayer is that it will help many believers grow in discernment, gratitude, and trust as they learn to see God at work more clearly.
Relevant Resources
10 Ways to Recognize God’s Little Miracles in Our Lives
Does God Still Perform Miracles?
Understanding God’s Ways
Our Knowable God: Learning to Relate to Our Invisible Lord
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV 1984). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.