Even When We Don’t See It, God is Working
The last Civil War veteran died in 1958. At least we think so. There are disputes and disagreements about more than a few of those who claimed to have served in the Civil War, on both the Union and Confederate side. Either way, it’s crazy to think that someone alive today could have shaken hands with someone who served in the Civil War in the 1860s.
One person who undoubtedly served in the Civil War was Union General, and later U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant. His memoirs are considered a literary masterpiece. The opening lines are the part that I find most compelling. He cites the well known saying, “Man proposes but God disposes.” He could have been paraphrasing Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Grant explains how, in hindsight, he can see God’s hand at work behind the scenes navigating the key turning points in his life, even apart from his plans or wishes. For example, he didn’t want to go into the military, but his dad was able to secure a West Point appointment for him and force Grant to attend. Time after time, he was in the right place at the right time to keep advancing forward. Of course he was faithful to follow through where he was planted, even in spite of his documented (and likely exaggerated) challenges with alcohol.
The point here is that Grant acknowledged a divine hand at work directing his life far beyond his ability to do so in his own strength or insight. His acknowledgment, along with our song Sunday, “even when I don’t see it He’s working… He never stops working,” both fit with the storyline of Esther that we’ve seen over the last few weeks. God’s hand has been working all along the way, even when it doesn’t seem He was near, even when His name is not even mentioned, He was still working in Esther’s life to protect her people.
We’ve seen God’s hand at work this week at Vacation Bible School. On our first day we had 202 kids, the first time we’ve had over 200 since before Covid. Make sure to say thank you to Lauren for investing in our kids. So far no grizzly bears have shown up on stage, although we did have a whale appear in the chapel. Another way we saw God work this week is through your generosity. Two weeks ago I shared a mid-year vision and budget update for the church and shared the gap that needed to be covered between the budget and regular giving. That gap was about $5,200 a week, but you committed new giving of about $2,500 a week, which is a significant help.
Of course a gap still exists, and the Elders will be praying about how God is directing us through this, but we know our call is to depend on him and walk by faith. That’s why our memory verse for the month is Hebrews 11:1 & 6, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” We walk by faith and watch God work. We plant, we water, but God causes the growth.
God is at work in our church and at churches across the South End. I read two articles recently about how God is at work at other local churches, at Fairdale First Baptist and at GracePointe and both were so encouraging. These both appeared on the KBC website that also featured our church in the search for Lynn Murray and our 85th Anniversary Celebration. We need to be praying for all the churches in our area, that every seat would be filled and that every person would be flourishing spiritually. We praise God for how He is moving all over the South End of Louisvillie, and we walk by faith knowing He is working, even when we don’t see it, even when we don’t feel it, He never stops working. Thank you for all your prayers for our kids this week during VBS. God is working in their lives!