Seeing God Work In All Things
Written by Sid Martin
I work as a Business Manager at a Christian Care Home, and it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of business, in spreadsheets and rotas, and lose track of the more intimate and personal ways that God deals with us. I have been reminded and encouraged in recent weeks to be more open to seeing God acting in ways that seem inconsequential, but actually display the very heart of God.
A few weeks ago, one of the residents at the home where I work was reluctant to leave the dining room after lunch and was on the verge of hurting one of the carers. I recognised this frustration in her face (I have a 23-year-old profoundly autistic son with significant learning disabilities who has the same look when he is distressed or agitated). I spoke with her enthusiastically with bright eyes and her face lit up, she smiled and grasped my hand. She stood up and walked through to the lounge absolutely full of joy and then when she sat down had to be persuaded to eventually let go of my hand. The two carers who were working with her, rather than being annoyed that I had unintentionally made it look effortless, were both crying with joy themselves at her beautiful response.
The same week, I went to my son’s leaving celebration at college and the staff there told me that when they had a time of the students choosing a song, he chose a song we sing at church. It reminded me of when he and I went to Scotland in February and he, out of the blue, brought me his laptop and read what he had typed: “My help comes from the Lord”. I quickly got my phone out to shoot a video to see if he would repeat it and he did. I sent it to my church leader who is a good friend, and he was in tears.
It is a reminder that we simply don’t know what God is doing in and through other people. Isaiah 55:8-12 reads:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Jesus often when speaking to his disciples turns things on their heads. When talking about the ‘smaller’ or ‘insignificant’ things – the birds of the air, the widow’s offering, the faith of the little children to name a few – he often makes them the central theme of his teaching.
I felt a challenge to not play down things which may not have much bearing on global markets, government policy or church missions reaching the lost, but nonetheless, they are intentional acts of loving kindness by our heavenly father. God has purpose in all he does. Not most of what he does, but all. Whether it is a lady with dementia having a moment of pure joy, or a profoundly autistic young man speaking the truth that his help comes from the Lord, they are important, valuable and meaningful.
It is an honour too, that we get to serve God in this way, and witness him working so we can be encouraged in our faith that God loves us intimately through any difficulties we might face through to the end of our lives. He uses us to be a blessing to others in what appear insignificant acts or words, but are actually immensely personal interactions where we are the conduits that God uses to communicate his love and compassion.
It is easy to see how a preacher could bring a message about how we should not limit God in terms of massive issues that we have not a hope of doing anything about in our own strength. But we should now and again remind ourselves that God is not limited in how small a thing he can do either. Let’s keep our hearts, minds, eyes and ears open to these most tender and personal encounters with God that we could so easily miss. In the Kingdom of God where the first shall be last, it perhaps follows that the seemingly trivial is actually the most impactful.
As we care for those who are unable to care for themselves, let us embody Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 – whatever we do (big or small) for the least of these brothers and sisters, we do for Him.