Recognizing God’s Hand
I don’t envision God sitting on His throne with a cosmic joystick, controlling every minute detail of my life. Sometimes stuff happens. Sometimes we get lucky. And of course free will plays a role in our lives. So how can we tell when God’s handiwork is responsible? It’s helpful to think both of the ways He moves in our lives and the indications that He’s in the middle of something.
God’s Ways: Blessings, Divine Intervention, Miracles
I can’t tell you why He chooses to relieve one need but allow another need to remain: His ways are mysterious and we can’t comprehend them all. I also believe that even the most dedicated Godspotter won’t be aware of all, or even most, of His works on our behalf. All the same, thinking about what He does for us helps us to know where to look for Him.
- God heals us…physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- God protects us from harm.
- God shows us His favor.
- God provides us with obstacles to sin.
- God leads us in the right course of action.
- God uses us to show Himself to others.
Was that God?
I lack a foolproof checklist–I can’t say, if x, then w, then….that was Him! All the same, we have some clues.
- Did a series of small coincidences add up to a big deal?
- Did you speak and have no idea where the words were coming from?
- Did you do something “out of character”?
- Did a seemingly insurmountable obstacle evaporate?
- Did you feel a sense of peace and certainty when you expected to feel fear, despair, or pain?
- Did an unlikely solution to a vexing problem emerge?
- Did you do a “little thing” for someone else that made a huge difference?
- Did inexplicable events take place?
When good things happen and these characteristics play a role, God’s in the mix.
7 I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs
me. 8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.Psalm 16:7-8 (NLT)
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