Cyber Column by Jeanie Miley: God is at work

Posted: 11/18/05

CYBER COLUMN:
God is at work

By Jeanie Miley

Stepping onto the elevator in the hospital, I pushed the button to the emergency room and leaned against the wall while the elevator carried me down to the basement. I had no idea what was facing me on that warm fall morning, but a phone call had turned my world upside down. I was amazed at how calm I was.

Life has a way of walloping you suddenly, now and then. And at other times, things that have been brewing for a long time suddenly make you realize you’ve arrived at the place you’ve been traveling to for a very long time. As far as I can tell, no one makes it out of here without encounters with scary times and hard times.

Later, looking back on the terrors of our family’s recent crisis, I gave thanks over and over for the people who have modeled faith for me in the past. I gave thanks for those who have taught me the ways of practicing the presence of Christ, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the Scriptures I had memorized in the easy times that came to my mind in the hard times to instruct me and comfort me.

“I’m frightened, frayed and fatigued around the edges,” I told my friends when they inquired about how I was doing, managing our crisis. “But, at the center, I’m really calm.”

Through the shakiest times in my life, my bedrock Scripture eventually bubbles up into my conscious mind to remind me that “God is at work in all things, attempting to bring about good.” Even when I’m thrown off-center or thrown to the mat, my basic, intentional orientation in life, practiced when times aren’t so tough, does finally come back to me to stabilize me. Even when I’m on a rollercoaster, being thrown between hope and despair, the reminder of the reality of God’s sovereign and abiding love does finally reach me.

Admittedly, sometimes the hardships and shocks of life are so shattering and shocking that it takes some time to remember that the Source of life is constantly at work, and that is why we need each other as reminders of God’s faithful, loving presence.

Now that I’m past the latest rollercoaster ride, I know that I must deepen that learned discipline of practicing the presence of Christ. I must become even more conscious of the ways and means God has of meeting us in the ordinary moments of everyday life. I must return again and again to the practice of opening my mind and heart to God. I must ask God to increase my sensitivity to the gentle movements of his Spirit so that I will not miss the guidance and direction of God in the midst of my life. Even more, I want to sharpen my hearing so that I can detect the still, small voice of God in the details of my life.

God is at work in all things, bringing order out of chaos and discernment in the midst of confusion.

God is at work in all things, extending mercy and grace, in spite of the difficulties of the moment.

God is at work in all things, asking us to surrender to his intentions, and the places where we are resisting most, we may be blocking God’s tender mercies toward us.

God is at work in all things, when things turn out like we want them to, but most especially, when they don’t.

God is at work in all things, even when I cannot see it or believe it.

God is at work in all things, and his work is always love.

Jeanie Miley is an author and columnist and a retreat and workshop leader. She is married to Martus Miley, pastor of River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston, and they have three adult daughters. Got feedback? Write her at Writer2530@aol.com.