Unseen, Yet Always Working

 

This morning, as is our habit, Ellie and I went outside for a walk.  This always begins with going into the backyard and looking for Percival, the box turtle who lives on our property.  More specifically, who lives behind our kayaks.

If we don't see him immediately when we go there, I will lightly tap on the kayaks and call his name to let him know we are there with his breakfast.  Then I listen.  Often, I can hear him moving to one end or the other. (Box turtles can't move backwards, so sometimes it takes him a minute or two to get to the end of the kayaks.)

Ellie had been sniffing at both ends and even along the ground where the kayaks rest.  I knew from the way she was acting that he was there, but she wasn't going to be satisfied until she could see him.

I could hear him moving, so I knew we would see him soon, but Ellie stood at the end of the kayaks looking between them. Her head turned from one side to the next as if she didn't understand why she didn't see him yet.  Then, finally, he reached the end, and we both could clearly see him.  He walked toward us and was rewarded with his daily food.

This reminded me so much of our walk with the Lord.  We know, by our experience, but more by His Word, that He is involved in every minute of our lives.  Yet, like Ellie, we are perplexed as to why we don't see Him moving in obvious ways.  Or sometimes, we are perplexed as to why we don't see Him moving in the ways we desired or expected.  And yet, He is there.  He is always there.  He is always working in our lives, our circumstances, and even in our spirits to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So many times, we don't see or hear this working, and we must simply believe it by faith.  Sometimes our "outward man" hurts, feels weak, or, as the Scriptures concisely describe, "perisheth".  Yet, that same verse continues to say, "...yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

As we go through our days and face moments that prompt us to turn our heads in question, as Ellie did, we must make a conscious choice to turn our faces toward our Lord.  As we choose to trust Him by faith, that He is indeed working in every aspect of our lives, we will growingly be aware that the Lord "effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue..."

2 Peter 1:3