As you interact with someone over time, you learn how they function and notice patterns. And after a while, you’ll be able to predict and understand what they will do in particular scenarios.
When my children were younger, they would get allowances. And they handled their money differently. My son would get money for a school event, and his mom and I knew he wouldn’t come back home with any money left over. My daughter would get money, and she would come back with all of it and put it in her piggy bank.
When she received her allowance as a single bill, she developed a habit of not wanting to break it. This pattern continued until one day I went to the bank to prepare to resolve this issue once and for all. I gave her a $100 allowance in twenty $5 bills. Problem solved!
Without question, you and I are living in chaotic and challenging times. We continually hear of situations that seem unprecedented and shocking, and these events can rock the very foundation of our faith and what we believe.
But while we are shocked and surprised, God is never taken by surprise. God is never caught off guard. After all, He knows the past, present, and future alike. So, we must understand that through every situation, there is a constant reality that we must embrace. And it is that God is always working.
We won’t always know why God does and allows specific things. However, if we pay close attention to how God works, we will notice some patterns about how He deals with us as His people. If you observe the Bible, time and time again, you will see this pattern of how God deals with His people:
– People sin
– God warns
– When there is no change, God continues to warn
– If there is still no change, God chastises
– When people repent, God offers mercy and grace
– Lessons are learned, and God restores His people
God desires a relationship with us as He works among us. 2 Peter 3:9 says:
‘The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’
As we recognize this pattern of how God works, we can see Him working in our own lives and adjust our attitudes and actions accordingly. Doing so provides hope, healing, and help to be optimistic in challenging situations.
So, take time to see God at work and take comfort in knowing that He uses every situation, good and bad, to draw us closer to Himself.