Look for God in Everything

  

In recent weeks, I have struggled with ongoing sickness, financial uncertainty, confusion, frustration and a never-ending list of questions to the Lord that seem to go unheard and unanswered.

My voice cries out, “God, where are you?”. “Where are you in all this mess?”

As I’ve fought against fear and doubt, consciously deciding each and every day to trust the Lord and wait on him, the questions still arise, and the overwhelming thoughts hang overhead.

What do we do when we can’t see God in our situation? How do we face each day feeling like God is not listening or aware of our needs?

We go to the Word of God, and we get down on our knees, humbly and sincerely asking him to reveal himself to us.

We search the scriptures looking for comfort and help, and we ask God to speak to us and to speak to our fears and our confusion. We ask for his peace and for his wisdom.

If we truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he is the Creator, sustainer, life-giver, redeemer and Saviour, then we know, that God is there. He is everywhere. We don’t need to ask, “where are you?” because he is right there.

He is the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. He’s not going anywhere. And we can’t hide from him. As the Psalmist so beautifully puts it:

Psalm 139:7-10 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

What I have to remind myself of continually, is that I need to see God in everything. I need to look for God’s hand in every circumstance. I need to remember that he is always there and because of this, he has his hand in and on everything. He is in control, and he is aware of everything I’m going through.

God is up on the mountaintops, and he is down in the valleys. God is in the trying circumstances and in the exciting, happy moments. He is moving and working behind the scenes and although I may not see evidence of his hand, I can have faith that he is there.

I need to look for God’s hand in every detail of each and every day.

Just as we can see his hand in creation, as we gaze upon a beautiful sunset, or marvel at the intricacies of a delicate flower, or feel the wind on our skin as we breathe in an ocean breeze as it washes over our feet, just as we see his hand upon creation, we can have the calm assurance that his hand is upon our lives and the situations we find ourselves in.

Instead of asking, “Where are you, God?”, I should be asking, “What is it you want to teach me in this?”

I think that if I can only learn to see God’s hand in every circumstance, if I purposely look for his presence in my daily life, if I can trust in what I know of him, then, I can learn to be content and accept the crosses (as I so often see them), that he places in my life.

Philippians 4:11 KJV - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Contentment doesn’t come naturally; it has to be learned. It’s something we will struggle with until we reach heaven. It is a day by day, submitting to God and trusting him with what he sends into our lives, seeing him in all our circumstances, believing that everything comes from his hand and has a purpose.

If I choose to see God in my sickness, my financial difficulty, my uncertainty, then I will defeat fear and doubt and live in faith, believing and trusting him, knowing that he walks beside me each step of the way, lovingly guiding me and leading me to walk in paths of righteousness and think good thoughts. His ways are perfect. His thoughts are higher.

Psalm 18:30 KJV - As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Seeing God in everything adds peace and joy to your life. It releases you from worry and fear. If you understand that God is in every situation, no matter how you see it, whether good or bad, you will have peace that he has it all under control and he is aware of the needs and will work things out.

And with that peace, you will begin to feel joy rise up in your soul. You will be able to rejoice and praise him for his goodness.

Psalm 5:11 KJV - But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalm 9:2 KJV - I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Philippians 4:4 KJV - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

One of my favourite sayings that I have repeated to myself many a time is this:

“When you can’t trace his hand, trust his heart”

We can’t always see God’s hand working in our lives, and sometimes it seems like he is unconcerned or unaware. But he is always working and always aware. He is El Roi, the God who sees (Genesis 16). He knows your heartache, he sees each tear, he understands.

We may not be able to trace his hand, but we can ALWAYS trust his heart.

Choose to see God’s hand in everything and watch him work contentment and peace and joy into your life as you humbly submit to him and joyfully trust and obey him.

I was recently reminded of a song I hadn’t heard for many years, and it was such a blessing and comfort to my soul.

Trust the God who sees and look for him in everything.

Trust His Heart

 

All things work for our good
Though sometimes we can't
See how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth

 

Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him,
Remember you're never alone

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand,
So don't live as those who have no hope,
All our hope is found in Him.

 

We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart