3rd June 2023

He’s active and engaged

It’s easy to look around at all the terrible things happening in the world and say, well, if there is a God, he must be on vacation because he’s not doing anything about it. Maybe some think a supernatural being who’s supposed to have all that power should fix our problems and make all the bad stuff go away. The age-old question is where is God when bad things happen?

I won’t presume to answer that question because I have not been endowed with enough wisdom and I, like all of you, still see through that dark glass (1 Corinthians 13:12), or as the Amplified Bible puts it, “we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma]” and we only know in part or in fragments. What I do know is that we live in a broken world, a world that we broke, and God did do something about it – he sent his son to be God with us, to forgive, redeem and provide a way to eternal life. 

I also know that he is still doing something today. Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working,” (John 5:17, NIV). We’ve seen many good things come out of disasters – neighbors helping neighbors in many ways, organizations feeding people, providing clothing and shelter, stories of heroism – and all of those are God’s Spirit moving hearts with his love. 

Our God is active, engaged and delivering. He’s not usually showy or loud about what he does, rather he’s always quietly working behind the scenes, whispering words of encouragement. “God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13, TPT). He works in this world by working in us and those whose hearts are open to his goodness and grace. And he never goes on vacation.

Study by Tammy Tkach

 First published on 16 May 2023, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com

About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com  

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