In so many ways, God is at work in our world. So often I lose my focus and become so very concerned with myself. I begin to focus on what’s going on around me and lose my focus on Him. I begin to accuse Him of neglect and of being “too far away”. But the truth is, He doesn’t go anywhere. His movements are no more hidden than are a flower’s petals in full bloom. But unless I’m looking I just may not see it. At other times, I forget to trust the truth of Who I know Him to be and I lose heart. I don’t “feel” Him close. But He can be no closer than He is and He can be no one but Who He is. Faithful. Good. Sovereign. Loving. Holy. Just. …
This past Friday night I was reminded that He is always working whether I happen to notice it or not. I was feeling embattled but not really sure why, questioning God and feeling alone in my struggles, unable to even say why or how I was struggling but feeling that I was…when I received a note from a woman back home telling me that she’d been praying for me for the past three weeks. God had placed me on the heart of a dear woman over 7,300 miles away knowing that I would be struggling for that same time here in PNG.
This morning I read emails from friends in Ethiopia where God is providing aide to over 600 flood victims who’ve lost what very little they had to begin with and where families are graduating from teaching programs that allow them to be fully independent and supporting themselves in an impoverished country, in Brazil where God has brought several boys to a place where they are learning about God Himself while working with horses and where a neighbor woman has asked my friend to study the Bible with her, in China where God is working through quiet channels to bring His hope and salvation to many, and in the U.S. where He’s leading a young woman through support-raising so that she can come to PNG and teach.
This past week I read emails from friends in closed countries that are seeing slaves freed, schools opened, homes provided for orphans and outcasts, and people drinking clean water for the first time. I also read an email from friends in Belize who are seeing aide and assistance in rebuilding given to those who have suffered from the effects of the most recent hurricane, churches started, children fed, pastors and church leaders trained, homes provided for orphans, medical care given to those who could never afford it, and the lives of volunteers changed forever. In Ecuador God is leading believers closer to Himself through home bible studies.
God’s hand may seem to move silently at times but He is DEFINITELY working!
“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! … All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.’ Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. …Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. …We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” ~Psalm 66: 1-5, 8-10, 12