Have you ever tried spotting something that’s right there, but somehow still hard to see? A couple of weeks ago, my family and I were sitting on the steps of our house when we heard a distinct *tap, tap, tap*. It was a woodpecker. We could hear it but couldn’t see it. We narrowed it down to a tree in our neighbor’s yard. Eventually, with each other’s help, and binoculars, we managed to spot it blending into the dead branch it was hammering away at. The bird was there all along, but it took a different perspective to notice it.
That woodpecker reminded me of how often we want to see God in our lives but struggle to recognize His presence. We know He's there, but we don’t always see Him clearly. And when things don’t go our way or answers seem delayed, it can feel like God pops in and out, helping only when He absolutely has to. But that perspective misses something vital: God is always at work, even when we can’t see it.
The Challenge of Noticing God’s Presence
In John 5, we find a story of a paralyzed man who sat by a pool believed to have healing powers. He had likely been waiting for years, unable to be healed and experience the life he longed for. The man was searching for God’s presence, but he couldn’t encounter it—until Jesus arrived and healed him.
The religious leaders who witnessed this miracle had their own struggle. They couldn’t recognize that God was being revealed in Jesus because they were blinded by fear of losing their status under Roman rule. God’s presence was right in front of them, but they missed it.
Jesus Helps Us See God Clearly
In John 5:19, Jesus says, “The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can only do what He sees His Father doing.” Jesus models what it looks like to live with the awareness that God is always present and active. Just like I needed help with my perspective to find that woodpecker, we all need help to see God’s presence in all areas of our lives. Jesus shows us that God is never absent—He is always working.
With the healing of the paralytic we see that God is continuously moving. He’s never "popping in and out." He’s always on mission, sharing His love and bringing life. The more we focus on Jesus, the clearer we see God’s presence at work.
God’s Mission in Motion
God’s mission didn’t start with us, and it won’t end with us. It began before creation, when God’s love overflowed into everything He made, and it continues today through Jesus. When we follow Jesus, we’re joining a mission that has been in motion for eternity.
Sometimes we get frustrated because we don’t always immediately see how God is at work. I’ve struggled with this myself—wondering if I’m missing opportunities to share Jesus with people in my life. But here’s the good news: We don’t carry the weight of the mission. Our job is simply to notice where God is already working, ride the wave of God’s mission, and, along the way, guide people to see God’s presence as best we can.
So, How Do We Do This?
1. Focus on Jesus: When you struggle to notice God, turn to the life of Jesus in the Bible. He shows us what God’s presence and activity look like. Like a pair of binoculars, Jesus helps us see God more clearly.
2. Trust God is Always at Work: Shift your perspective from thinking God pops in-and-out of your life to trusting He is always present and active. Even when it's hard to see, God’s work is constant.
3. Be a Guide for Others: Just as Jesus helps you notice God, you can help others see God’s presence too. Ask them reflective questions like, "What if God is working in this situation in ways you can’t see by yourself right now?"
Are You Ready to See God’s Presence?
Maybe you’ve been feeling like that paralyzed man by the pool—wondering where God is in your situation. Or maybe you’re like the religious leaders, so distracted by other concerns that you’ve missed seeing Jesus at work. Either way, Jesus invites you to notice God’s presence today.
Ask God to help you see Him more clearly through Jesus. Whether you’re new to following Jesus or have been a disciple for years, God’s mission is unfolding, and you are part of it.
Jesus helps us notice God’s presence. Are you ready to notice?
Note:
During this Sunday's worship gathering, we’ll hear from one of our partners working among the Alley people. I encourage you to prioritize attending and hear how God has faithfully made Himself known through His witnesses in an incredibly challenging context. Please note that the worship gathering will not be streamed; the only way to participate is in person at 10 a.m. this Sunday.
Being there in person not only allows you to hear their story but also provides essential encouragement and energy to our partners, strengthening their resolve for the work ahead. I hope you will join us.
Continue to trust that God is present and active.
Jordan Byrd