“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.””
(John 13:7, NIV84)
(John 13:7, NIV84)
On the day that marked Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet, our Lord made a bold statement memorialized in the scripture for today. After Peter questioned what Jesus was doing, Jesus said, “ You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7). This is not the only place in the Bible where people did not understand what God was doing. The Wisemen didn’t understand the intricacies of Jesus’ birth, though they followed the star and asked Herod about the Christ child. The Shepherds didn’t understand the angels’ proclamation at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:15). King Herod didn’t know where the Messiah was to be born and had to consult “chief priests and scribes” for answers to what God was doing in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:3-5). Paul did not subscribe to Jesus as the Messiah until he met the risen Savior on the Road to Damascus. Only then did he begin to comprehend the meaning of Jesus as his Lord. In situation after situation of the Bible, many people didn’t appreciate what God was doing or didn’t fully comprehend a holy movement. Even faithful people like Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul all had moments of spiritual incomprehension.
Hindsight sometimes yields clues to God’s work among us. After looking back, you may be able to decipher God’s plan or purpose. Some people never figure it out. Some people are blind to the actions of the Lord. Many do not feel the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit. How about you? Have you ever had a realization that God had been doing something special in and around you? Have you ever looked back and later understood the meaning of a series of events in your life?
"Many years ago, there was a man and his wife who were driving from the countryside into the busy city. They passed villages that were along the road and reached the peri-urban farms without any challenge. Suddenly they had a puncture and the man pulled off the road. He quickly donned an overcoat intending to change the wheel and put on a spare. This job would not take him a lot of time since he had everything required to change the wheel. He went to the rear of the vehicle and unwound the spare wheel from underneath the car. To his surprise, he realized that the rim was not the same as those presently on his car. The spare wheel had five holes, yet their car used six holes. This was a shock to the man who had never used a five-hole rim before. He wondered how on earth he came to have a five-hole rim as the spare. They had no choice except to wait for other motorists and ask for assistance. While contemplating their predicament, they saw from a distance a woman moving along the hedges. Amazingly, they came to realize that the woman wanted to abandon a baby in the bushes. Immediately, they came to the rescue of the little innocent infant and ensured his safety. To their surprise, when they returned to their car, the spare wheel was the right one with six holes. It was clear that God had confused them in order to save the little innocent infant.
As the pastor was telling the story everyone was following with keen interest. As he concluded the story he said, "The little innocent child in my story is this pastor who is standing before you today." There was dead silence in the congregation, and many were seen wiping tears from their eyes while others were unable to even speak.” (adapted from and used with permission from Brighton Kohlisa, Daily Inspirational Devotional Series).
A flat tire, an interruption, an obstacle, a change in plans can all be frustrating events. Some of those may occur through the intervention of God. God will alter your calendar, change your direction, adjust your attitude, or make new arrangements to accomplish His plan. When things pop up out of nowhere in your life and even cause stress, don’t let it unsettle your spirit. It may be God at work. God may be putting you in a better situation or saving you from harm.
Off the top of my head, I have witnessed or been told directly by people who experienced the following:
A woman slowed down while driving upon hearing a voice in her car while praying on the way to work. In so doing, she avoided an accident only seconds later.
A man went into the hospital with bronchitis, but the x ray taken revealed cancer. The cancer was removed in surgery. The bronchitis that came out of nowhere saved his life.
A man’s flight was delayed. Because of the delay, he ended up on a different flight seated next to a woman who later became his wife! They met on that flight!
A man had complications following surgery. The doctors were worried about infection setting in as he was retaining fluid around the joint weeks later. He asked for and received more prayers from friends. A few days later, he moved his joint and heard a pop. Fearing something went wrong, he was surprised in the following days as all the swelling receded and the recovery went perfectly thereafter.
A young teen went to church camp only because her parents made her go. She dreaded everything about the arrangements. However, during that week, she met another camper who was born blind. The two, though coming from very different worlds, hit it off. They became best friends and are so to this day!
I was told at age 52 that I was going to be bed-ridden for life. A specialist who was consulted advised they put me in a nursing home due to a severely damaged spine. However, I just happened to run into a person who had recovered beautifully from the exact same surgery that was needed to enable me to live a normal life. He put me in touch with a surgeon who had just patented a novel procedure. I had the surgery in 2015 and now can move without debilitating pain from that damaged spine. I no longer must be medicated in order to simply stand or walk or even lay in bed. I still don’t know what caused me to bump into that person who had that exact same experimental surgery that I required. My doctors did not even know about the novel surgery! Looking back, I can see how all kinds of things fell into place perfectly. Obviously, it was God’s plan all along.
Where some people see coincidences or obstacles, others find out later that God was working behind the scenes all along. Don’t be surprised if you too don’t notice God’s hand at work until later. There are things we just can’t perceive at the time. It’s not that God doesn’t like to share what HE is doing. Often, we just aren’t open to the possibilities or prepared for what God has planned.
Every now and then, look for what God may be doing in your life. Examine events that just seem to fall into place at the perfect time or with perfect purpose. God’s plans are awesome to behold, if you just take the time to notice!
Hindsight sometimes yields clues to God’s work among us. After looking back, you may be able to decipher God’s plan or purpose. Some people never figure it out. Some people are blind to the actions of the Lord. Many do not feel the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit. How about you? Have you ever had a realization that God had been doing something special in and around you? Have you ever looked back and later understood the meaning of a series of events in your life?
"Many years ago, there was a man and his wife who were driving from the countryside into the busy city. They passed villages that were along the road and reached the peri-urban farms without any challenge. Suddenly they had a puncture and the man pulled off the road. He quickly donned an overcoat intending to change the wheel and put on a spare. This job would not take him a lot of time since he had everything required to change the wheel. He went to the rear of the vehicle and unwound the spare wheel from underneath the car. To his surprise, he realized that the rim was not the same as those presently on his car. The spare wheel had five holes, yet their car used six holes. This was a shock to the man who had never used a five-hole rim before. He wondered how on earth he came to have a five-hole rim as the spare. They had no choice except to wait for other motorists and ask for assistance. While contemplating their predicament, they saw from a distance a woman moving along the hedges. Amazingly, they came to realize that the woman wanted to abandon a baby in the bushes. Immediately, they came to the rescue of the little innocent infant and ensured his safety. To their surprise, when they returned to their car, the spare wheel was the right one with six holes. It was clear that God had confused them in order to save the little innocent infant.
As the pastor was telling the story everyone was following with keen interest. As he concluded the story he said, "The little innocent child in my story is this pastor who is standing before you today." There was dead silence in the congregation, and many were seen wiping tears from their eyes while others were unable to even speak.” (adapted from and used with permission from Brighton Kohlisa, Daily Inspirational Devotional Series).
A flat tire, an interruption, an obstacle, a change in plans can all be frustrating events. Some of those may occur through the intervention of God. God will alter your calendar, change your direction, adjust your attitude, or make new arrangements to accomplish His plan. When things pop up out of nowhere in your life and even cause stress, don’t let it unsettle your spirit. It may be God at work. God may be putting you in a better situation or saving you from harm.
Off the top of my head, I have witnessed or been told directly by people who experienced the following:
A woman slowed down while driving upon hearing a voice in her car while praying on the way to work. In so doing, she avoided an accident only seconds later.
A man went into the hospital with bronchitis, but the x ray taken revealed cancer. The cancer was removed in surgery. The bronchitis that came out of nowhere saved his life.
A man’s flight was delayed. Because of the delay, he ended up on a different flight seated next to a woman who later became his wife! They met on that flight!
A man had complications following surgery. The doctors were worried about infection setting in as he was retaining fluid around the joint weeks later. He asked for and received more prayers from friends. A few days later, he moved his joint and heard a pop. Fearing something went wrong, he was surprised in the following days as all the swelling receded and the recovery went perfectly thereafter.
A young teen went to church camp only because her parents made her go. She dreaded everything about the arrangements. However, during that week, she met another camper who was born blind. The two, though coming from very different worlds, hit it off. They became best friends and are so to this day!
I was told at age 52 that I was going to be bed-ridden for life. A specialist who was consulted advised they put me in a nursing home due to a severely damaged spine. However, I just happened to run into a person who had recovered beautifully from the exact same surgery that was needed to enable me to live a normal life. He put me in touch with a surgeon who had just patented a novel procedure. I had the surgery in 2015 and now can move without debilitating pain from that damaged spine. I no longer must be medicated in order to simply stand or walk or even lay in bed. I still don’t know what caused me to bump into that person who had that exact same experimental surgery that I required. My doctors did not even know about the novel surgery! Looking back, I can see how all kinds of things fell into place perfectly. Obviously, it was God’s plan all along.
Where some people see coincidences or obstacles, others find out later that God was working behind the scenes all along. Don’t be surprised if you too don’t notice God’s hand at work until later. There are things we just can’t perceive at the time. It’s not that God doesn’t like to share what HE is doing. Often, we just aren’t open to the possibilities or prepared for what God has planned.
Every now and then, look for what God may be doing in your life. Examine events that just seem to fall into place at the perfect time or with perfect purpose. God’s plans are awesome to behold, if you just take the time to notice!