If you’re a believer trying to grow your faith, you’ve probably wondered if God is working in your life. And, if He is, how do you know?
It’s easy to think that God has forgotten you if He’s not answering your prayers when and how you want.
When we want something, we typically want it as soon as possible. I get it. Most of us struggle with patience and a fear of the unknown, and being children of The Almighty, doesn’t bar us from the pains and anxieties of life. When we’re in a waiting period or it seems like things just aren’t working out for us, it’s natural to wonder if God’s working in our lives or if He’s just “forgotten” us.
Scripture tells us that we are to expect suffering in this life, though, and no one knows this better than our Savior, Jesus. Just as His suffering served the ultimate redemptive purpose for us, you will often realize, while sitting in stillness, that God has been working overtime in your difficult moments, “unanswered” prayers, and the remnants of brokenness.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
God works in all things, from the simple joys of life to the momentous moments to our mundane daily routines. Seeing God’s hand in our lives often requires a shift in perspective as His work is not always dramatic or immediate. Instead, it unfolds subtly through our growth, relationships, trials, and blessings. God’s work is woven into the fabric of our everyday experiences and it shapes our character, circumstances, and faith.
With that being said, here are a few ways that God works in your life:
1. In the subtle, everyday moments
God’s work often appears in the small, everyday moments that we overlook – a text from a friend, a deep breath during a tough workday, the beauty of a richly-hued sunset, a cute, little bird hopping around a patio. He frequently works in ways that are not flashy or immediately noticeable so you’ll often find his presence in the details. He uses these moments to connect with us and they are a sign of his care. Taking time to “be still and know God” can deepen your faith and help you appreciate His involvement.
2. Through growth and transformation
When you look back over time, you may notice changes in your character or mindset that reveal God’s work in your heart and mind. Perhaps you’ve developed greater patience, overcome a fear, or found clarity over challenging decisions. These transformations are evidence of His active work within you.
One clear sign of God’s work is personal growth. Reflecting on past seasons of your life can reveal changes in your character, such as increased patience, wisdom, or peace in difficult circumstances. This Godly transformation often aligns with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Such growth displays His active role in shaping you to reflect His love and purpose.
Though it may frustrate us in the present, this is usually the way God works in our lives, little by little, though we’d prefer it all at once. God wants to develop us over time and give us the fruit of the Spirit, and just like a parent raises a child, God grows us little by little.
3. In the challenges and trials
It seems to be human nature to seek God during times of hardship, and He will welcome you with open arms. Challenges push us to rely on Him, and they often strengthen our faith, making us more resilient. Trials are not meant to break us but to mold us into the people God desires us to become.
Trials and difficulties are part of life, but they can serve as powerful ways for God to demonstrate His presence. They facilitate Him to provide strength, wisdom, and peace that surpasses all understanding. These experiences not only grow our faith but help us see how God is using challenges to refine and strengthen us for His purpose.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
4. In your relationships
God can show you His love through others. A supportive friend, a mentor, or even a stranger can be a vessel of His grace. Reflecting on the relationships in your life helps you see how God uses people to bless and guide you.
God can work through the people around us – family, friends, coworkers, or acquaintances. Good relationships are a gift from Him, and moments of connection reveal His love and care. When others encourage, challenge, or guide us, they may be working on God’s behalf.
5. Over time
One of the clearest ways to see God’s work in your life is to look back over years or decades. Consider how fears you once had have been replaced by faith, how challenges have become stepping stones, or how your perspective on things has shifted. God’s faithfulness becomes evident in hindsight, revealing how He has carried you through various seasons.
Looking back over months or years can reveal the breadth of God’s work in your life. Hindsight shows you how He provided in times of need, guided your decisions, and helped you grow in unexpected ways. His faithfulness becomes evident when you reflect on the journey you’ve been on.
6. In spiritual awakening
God works in your life through a deepening awareness of His presence. This might come as a sense of peace when you pray, a verse of Scripture that speaks directly to your soul, or an inner conviction to act according to His will. These moments are the Spirit’s work, guiding you toward greater alignment with God’s purposes.
7. In your desire for God
Following in that vein, God is working in your life by the simple fact that you desire Him. It’s often overlooked and easy to think that a desire for God is something we conjure ourselves but Scripture tells us that God is the one changing our hearts and giving us new desires for Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” This is the cause that Jesus died for and what He continues to do every day, evolving us into followers who desire something more – that something, being Him.
See God working in your life
Our lives play out within God’s will when we seek Him. As humans in the flesh, we often see an “unanswered prayer” as God abandoning or forgetting about us but God is always working. If we abandon our idolatry of a desired outcome and turn seeking God into the outcome, this pleases Him and He can work more deeply.
God is working in your life but you won’t see it if you’re only finding hope and satisfaction in the world. In a pursuit of worldly “success” (jobs, money, an attractive spouse, etc.), are you gaining Christ? Are you finding your satisfaction in pleasing and resting in Him or are you relying on the outward appearance of success to find fulfillment in life?
The more you seek and rely on God, the more you’ll see Him at work in your life! When you stop victimizing yourself over what you lack, and start realizing all that you have (be it eyes to see, ears to hear, a bed to sleep in, shoelaces in your sneakers, healthy fingernails, etc.), you’ll see the silver linings in the troubles and God will strengthen you, increase your patience, and prepare you for what He has planned.
God is like a river that runs through all of our lives and when you submit to Him, your life will start to flow.
God is like a river that runs through all of our lives and when you submit to Him, your life will start to flow.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:8-10
God is good
God is a good and loving father, and He remains good all the time. As a child of God, your identity is in Christ and you don’t have to strive to get that, it is already handed to you as a repentant follower of His. If you don’t get that job, if you don’t become rich, if you don’t find the “perfect” spouse – fulfilling those identities doesn’t matter because your value to God does not come from your worldly identity. Seeking Him will help you see past the veil of reality and into the spiritual reality of the Holy Spirit, where His mighty Hand is working in the very fabric of reality.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10.
God loves to bless His children and give them what they need. Even if you can’t see it, He is working behind the scenes to bless you, in ways you may not understand. Waking up with breath in your lungs is God’s first work of the day in your life and His works only continue from there with the provision of the bed you woke up in, the walls that surround you from the outdoor elements, the glass of water you drink once you get out of the bed, and the list continues.
Spend time in prayer and gratitude, asking God to open your eyes to His presence. Reflect on your life, and you’ll likely discover His fingerprints in places you didn’t expect. Whether in the small joys or significant milestones, He is continuously shaping, guiding, and loving you.
Just as God did not bring Israel out of Egypt to leave them in the wilderness, He plans to bring you into the land of promise and abundance. Have faith.
So, I want to know, do you see God working in your life? Tell me below, I’d love to hear it.
Blog by Dana Hornor
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