Whenever I see family and friends posting vacation pictures on social media, I can’t help but dream about travel. And then I start planning. A photo of the mountains inspires me to look for cheap flights to the Rockies. When my wife talks about going back out West, I start planning a monthlong road trip through as many national parks as we can visit. If friends I haven’t seen in a while reach out, I’m already thinking about how we can turn a visit into an adventure.
Then reality sets in. Without proper planning, those travel dreams wouldn’t last long. How long would we be gone? Where would we stay? Who would watch the dog? How would we get around? Are we able to take off work? What’s our budget? What if our plans change?
Before a blessing like a family trip can be enjoyed, it first takes a lot of planning and preparation. Although much of the work happens behind the scenes, that doesn’t make it any less important. Movies couldn’t be enjoyed without dozens of workers making sure filming runs smoothly. Skyscrapers couldn’t stand without a strong foundation. Even our bodies do incredible, unnoticeable work every day until something goes wrong.
God often works the same way. Many of his greatest works happen behind the scenes. An opportunity we missed one day may later turn out to be God protecting us or leading us somewhere better the next day. A phone call at just the right time can be God’s way of encouraging us to get out of a slump. An unexpected act of kindness may be God’s way of reminding us who we are and how he calls us to live.
Have you ever wished you could see into God’s mind? Have you ever wondered why he does the things he does? It would be nice if we could get a sneak peek as to what God has planned for us. But even if we could, we probably wouldn’t understand it or even push back against it. God reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
Even when we can’t see what God is doing, he is still at work. He is always working for the good of those who love him, guiding events, opening and closing doors, and shaping us into the people he has called us to be. His plans are greater than ours because he sees what we can’t.
God doesn’t ask us to understand everything. He simply asks us to trust him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
You may not see clearly how God is working in your life, growing your faith, or answering your prayers, but over time you get to experience the results of his unseen work. When you look back on a hard season in life, you can marvel at how God has faithfully brought you through. In moments of physical, emotional, or spiritual hardship, God gives you peace, wisdom, and strength that you come to appreciate more after you have endured them. One day, you’ll be able to look back and see that every unseen detail was part of his perfect plan. Until then, walk by faith, confident that the God who works behind the scenes never stops working for you.
