From September 3, 2013

Well, a month ago I set out to write something every week about the new life of our church plant, and I failed already. I missed two weeks in a row.

But I have a good excuse -- I didn't feel like it. I was busy with day-to-day things, and I didn't feel like stopping to think about what God is doing in our church. It didn't seem too important.

And I think that's something we all struggle with. We get so overwhelmed with the day-to-day tasks and problems, that we don't stop to step back and ask God to show us the big picture. We even pray as if God is just taking our order, telling him what needs to be fixed and solved and taken care of. But we fail to stop and say, "Hey, wait a minute, God. What is going on today? What are YOU up to?"

Because he is always up to something. He is always at work, orchestrating and wooing and stirring and shaking and messing with things. Always. And I think he delights in us asking for a glimpse of it.

Now granted, just because we ask doesn't guarantee He will make things very plain and clear. But I think it's at least good to ask the question and to wait for an answer.

For example, this past summer seemed to be an extra difficult season for quite a few married couples in our church (some have been dealing with on-going problems, and some were more short-lived conflicts).

And I've been praying for these couples based on whatever details I was told (some weeks this included my own marriage, especially in July).

But it wasn't until Sunday night, after hearing from a few people within 24 hours, when I stopped and asked that question: "God, what's going on? Are you up to something?"

And I started thinking about how we've been praying for the marriages at True Life since the beginning, and how marriages has always been a priority of ours. And then I started to wonder if God, in an answer to those prayers, has just been stirring things up. Like gold that is heated so that the impurities can come to the surface, perhaps that is what God is doing in these marriages right now -- stirring things up, bringing out the ugly stuff and the fears and the bitterness that has been hidden deep down in our hearts. Perhaps this is a season of bringing it up so that it can all be addressed and confessed and healed and redeemed.

I don't know.

But the point is, whatever you're going through or dealing with, make a regular habit of picking your head up from your work, slowing down, pushing away from your busyness, and asking God, "What are you up to right now?" He may show you, and he may not. But at least you'll be reminded that He is indeed up to something.

Because He always is.

And it's always for the good "of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).