When You Can’t See What God Is Building

When You Can’t See What God Is Building

Tracie Miles

My son’s social studies teacher assigned the task of making a pyramid. There were no specific criteria given about the size, or what materials to use—only that students rely on their imagination.

When Michael told me about his school project, I immediately put on my crafty-mom hat. How much cardboard and hot glue would we need? However, when he told his daddy about it, the project took on grander proportions. Before I knew it, we were at the hardware store.

“Lumber and nails?” I eyeballed my husband as if he had forgotten it was a seventh-grade project. He smiled and said, “I know.”

I had no idea how a few 2 x 4s could be transformed into a pyramid. My husband, on the other hand, is a builder by trade, so he had a clear vision of the pyramid in our son’s future.

He and Michael spent hours measuring and sawing and nailing. Step by step, a triangular form evolved. I watched and waited for my husband’s vision to become a reality—and when it did, it truly was amazing!

As I marveled at this work of art, God spoke gentle reassurance to my soul. He knew my heart had been heavy, worried about several adversities and hardships my family was facing.

I’d been questioning His ways, wondering how He could bring good out of our difficult circumstances. God chose this moment to whisper to my spirit, I am creating something good, beyond your human understanding. Trust Me as your Builder.

Hebrews 3:4 quickly came to mind. There we are reminded that God is the builder of everything, including us. We are His temple, where His Holy Spirit resides. He’s always at work building our lives so He can be glorified through us.

Here is what theologian Albert Barnes says about this passage: “Every family must have a founder; every dispensation an author; every house a builder. There must be someone, therefore, over all dispensations.” And that Someone is God.

The theological definition of the word dispensation is “the divine ordering of the affairs of the world; an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.” In other words, God is arranging and rearranging our lives in accordance with His will. Step by step, day by day, and with each circumstance we face. He is constructing a dwelling place for His presence within us.

What comfort it brings to know that in the same way my husband had a clear picture of what he planned to build, God has a vision of the masterpiece He is building in my life and in yours. Although we may not understand or like the building process, we can trust our Builder and know that He is looking out for our best.

Dear Lord, I trust You are doing a good work in me. Help me embrace the promise that You are building my life based on Your beautiful design, even when I cannot envision the outcome. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

No matter what is going on in your life, God is building something wonderful according to His master plan.

REFLECT

In what areas have you been questioning God’s design for your life or neglecting to fully trust that His ways are always right and good?

RESPOND

Consider making a historical timeline of your life, highlighting situations where you can see how God was faithful and at work even when you didn’t know what He was up to at the time. Allow these examples of His faithfulness to help you build a new attitude of trust in Him.

POWER VERSES

Psalm 127:1; Psalm 139:13