Sometimes, it’s amazing how our God, who is omnipresent, can seem so MIA in our messiest situations. Life can throw you a fast curveball that leaves you feeling blind-folded and fumbling through the dark at the very time you need to see God at work.
You may ask yourself, “How will I ever make it out of this painful situation – alive? Where are you, God?”
“Come to the window. See, I’m right here.”
See God at Work Through Dirty Windows
It would be easier to see God through the window of our circumstances if the glass had a fresh coat of Windex and wiped perfectly clean – no streaks. But, the filth of that heartache, illness, financial struggle has smeared the window and all we can see is the mess it’s made. All we can see and feel is the grime of that messy situation.
Sometimes, we try to help the situation by wiping the grime with our own might (Zechariah 4:6). “If I’m supposed to see God at work in this, maybe I can help Him reveal Himself.” We intervene in our situations by talking too much, putting our hands to work on counterproductive efforts, and trying to manipulate or control the speed of the solution. But, as we take our finger and wipe the glass, it only leaves a greasy smear and makes matters worse.
“Come to the window. See, I’m right here.”
If seeing God at work were that simple, why is the glass of this situation so dark (1 Corinthians 13:12)?
God is Always at Work, Can You See It?
It’s not always our first, natural inclination to see God at work when times are hard. Most times, we’re too hurt, offended, confused, or angry at the situation to even think about God’s goodness and mercy. This is why we must train ourselves in the Word of God before heartache and tragedy strike so that we’ll be prepared.
Regardless of your position to the storm – going in, in the eye, or coming out – remember these tips to come to the window to see God in any situation:
1. Renounce hopelessness and apathy.
You know, the enemy does the most work on us before we even step up to the window. You may sense whispers of, “Don’t be a fool, it’s no use trying to see God in something this messed up” – but don’t you believe the father of lies, that what he does and who he is. Renounce those feelings that it’s too hard so why even try. Untie those sandbags of apathy from around your ankles, you know the ones keeping you from moving forward to see God’s might and splendor.
Sometimes, all God asks us to do is show up, and He’ll take our hands the rest of the way through. Don’t give up before you give God an honest try. He’s got something amazing to show you.
2. Focus on Faith by Faith.
Ok. With your hope in God solid and steadfast, approach the window of your circumstances with the shield of faith. Not only will faith be the substance of your hope when all around you is sinking sand (Hebrews 11:1), faith also provides the evidence of God’s mighty hand that you can’t see with your natural eyes. As the enemy fires off his fiery darts, the shield of faith will extinguish every fiery distraction intended to obscure the view of God at work on your behalf (Ephesians 6:16).
3. See the Salvation of a Loving Savior.
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13). As you approach the window to see God at work, you may feel the same way the children of Israel felt as they approached the Red Sea. “God, what is this? Are you trying to give me a front-row seat to my own demise?” Nonetheless, in Exodus 14:15 at the edge of the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to tell the people, “Go forward.”
See, God wants to give you a front-row, VIP seat not to your demise, but to see God at work orchestrating your complete victory! God loves us and has a loving plan for each of us – a plan that leads to abundance and prosperity, not harm (Jeremiah 29:11).
So, What’s the Play Call?
When God calls us to see Him at work, don’t focus on the dirt and grime on the window of that situation. See through the noise. Step up to the glass with an assured hope and faith in the faithfulness of a loving God.
Remember, it’s okay to watch in silence (Exodus 14:14) and rest in the completeness of God’s perfect will. Move out of the way and give yourself permission to let God be God. When we do so, we’ll surely see God at work every time and know that the outcome will work out for our good.
