How God Works

An acquaintance of mine from our last church is fighting a courageous battle with cancer. He's having a marrow transplant today. It seems like it has to be a turning point for him. He's just about to turn 48 years old, and is fighting for his life. I often wonder what that experience is like. No, I'm not envious, just in awe of that process.

Many of us have prayed for this man. In fact, it's probably fair to say that dozens, maybe even more than a hundred people have been praying for him. Now I imagine that we aren't all praying for the same thing. God hears us nonetheless. What does God hear? Well, I think He hears our hearts, first and foremost. After all, He is God and certainly isn't in need of our telling Him what the solution is for every problem we want Him to fix. But if that is the case, then does it really matter what we pray for?

I've noticed in my life that God seems to work in three distinct ways. Maybe we aren't always conscious of them, or we don't realize it's God at work. But here's how I've observed God working.

Natural Order - God created the universe and set it in motion. Certain things are just going to happen because of how God programmed the whole mess in the first place. We may not think of it as God, but it is God, nonetheless.

Providence - Now despite there being a natural order to things, not everything has to follow that natural order. "How's that?" you say. Well God can change the order. Most often we see this as coincidence. But it is God intervening in the natural order of things.

Miracles - This is probably what we most often hope for (and yet least expect) when we pray to God. It is the case of God absolutely violating the natural order of things because He cares for us, He wants to and He can! Things that aren't probable and wouldn't likely ever be coincidental can still happen.

If one is in a battle for their life or for anything else, are we likely to see God in the circumstances? Mind you, the circumstances can be rather intimidating and frustrating. But I tend to think that God is still in them. His natural order is at work. His providence could be just around the corner. And His miracles are always possible.

I don't know about you, but I want to pray prayers that I expect to get answered. I want to pray prayers that change lives. I want to pray prayers that help me understand God's natural order to things --- and help me learn to walk with that rhythm. And I want to pray and commune with my Father in such a way that He and I are on the same page about my circumstances. My prayers have to bring about and help me recognize the work of my God in my life.

"Lord, today I lift up those who seek You, those who beseech You and those who are desperate for You. I pray that they too will see the natural order of God's wishes being played out in their circumstances. And when God intervenes in providence or interrupts in miracles, help all of us to not miss that glorious moment!"