But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
– John 5:17 (NASB) –
The first reality of Experiencing God is: God is always at work around you.
This truth seems obvious, but it can be hard to believe, especially during challenging seasons like we’re experiencing now.
How can we know that God is at work around us?
In an exchange between Jesus and a group of Pharisees who were questioning His healing of a disabled man on the Sabbath, Jesus says in John 5:17:
“My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” (NIV)
We can know with certainty that God is always working because He said He is, and God doesn’t lie (Numbers 23:19).
What is God doing?
Matthew 4:23 says that,
Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
Jesus continues this work today through His Church. He has appointed pastors and teachers to teach His word and called all believers to share the gospel with everyone (Matthew 28:19-20). He also tells us to pray for the physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick among us (James 5:14-16).
God is also orchestrating the events and circumstances around you to fulfill His agenda: in your family (Matthew 1:1-17), in your job (Genesis 39 – 41), in your community (John 4:1-42), and in your country (book of Esther). He has control over everything we have no control over and is working through it all (Romans 8:28).
Why is He working?
God could have stopped His interaction with us after creation, but He didn’t. He could have stopped it after the Fall, but He didn’t. Instead, He works to make Himself known to us.
From the plagues in Egypt to Jesus’ resurrection and beyond, God works around us so that we may know that He is the Lord (Exodus 8:22, John 20:30-31, Isaiah 45:22-23). He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8).
How can knowing that God is always at work around you impact your everyday life?
Remembering this truth can bring you peace in chaos and turmoil (Isaiah 26:3).
Can you meditate on the truth of God’s sovereignty to calm your worries and anxieties?
When God is at work, things are not always as they seem. As Jesus explained to His disciples in John 4:35, the fields are ready for harvest. The same is true now. The gospel of Jesus still changes lives, and there are people around you waiting to hear.
Can you equip yourself to share the gospel?
Finally, knowing that God is always at work around you turns your attention toward Him and His agenda, which compels you to rightly prioritize your daily activities.
Can you turn toward His agenda instead of your own?
May knowing that God is always at work around us change the way we experience God today.
In Christ,
Alondra Thompson