Only a handful of you may know that the title of my doctoral dissertation was Authenticity in Worship. And, like any major milestone in life, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. But beyond the research and the writing, the process did something else in me. It sensitized me even further to the work of God in our lives, not only individually, but also across cultures, traditions, and the global Church.
It challenged me to reconsider some of the “Christianese” I had unknowingly held onto. It encouraged me to step, as best I could, into the shoes of Christians whose traditions, experiences, and expressions of faith were different from my own. And it caused me to think more carefully about how I communicate my faith and how I represent Christ to the world around me. Sometimes, what feels perfectly natural to us may not communicate what we think it does to someone else. That realization has stayed with me.
I also grew up in a pastor’s home. I’m a third-generation pastor’s kid, and let’s just say I’ve pretty much seen and heard it all! Over the years, I’ve found myself pausing over some familiar expressions we use in Christian circles. Things like “God is up to something,” “God is moving,” and “Won’t He do it!” These statements are often sincere, full of excitement, and rooted in a genuine desire to celebrate God’s goodness. I understand that, and I don’t want to take anything away from it. But I’ve also come to wonder whether, sometimes, our excitement about what God might do next can cause us to overlook what He has always been doing.
After all, God has always had a people. He has always been faithful to His promises, present with His children, and at work in ways we can see and in ways we cannot. Scripture reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV). His character doesn’t change with the season, the atmosphere in the room, the song we sing, or the emotional moment we experience. And Ephesians 1:11 reminds us that God “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (ESV). His work is not limited to the moments when we recognize it, feel it, or have the words to describe it.
Please hear my heart: I believe God is still at work. I believe we should pray expectantly, celebrate answered prayers, rejoice in spiritual renewal, and give thanks when we see lives transformed. There is nothing wrong with looking forward to what God may do. But I wonder if we sometimes become so focused on the next breakthrough, the next movement, or the next remarkable moment that we forget to recognize the faithfulness of God in the ordinary rhythms of life. He is present in the quiet seasons, in the unanswered questions, in the long obedience of everyday discipleship, and in the seemingly small acts of faithfulness that may never make a testimony service or social media post.
Perhaps our invitation is not to stop saying “God is moving,” but to become more attentive to the ways He has never stopped moving. Not to lose our anticipation, but to deepen our gratitude. Not to diminish the significance of a powerful moment, but to remember that God’s faithfulness did not begin when that moment arrived, and it will not end when the moment passes.
So, yes, let’s celebrate what God is doing. Let’s pray with expectation for what He will do. Let’s tell the stories of His goodness and encourage one another with the ways we have seen His hand at work. But let’s also learn to recognize Him in the everyday, to trust Him when nothing seems extraordinary, and to rest in the assurance that His faithfulness does not depend on our ability to perceive it.
Here’s my challenge for all of us: Over the next few days, rather than looking only for the next big thing God might do, take a moment to recognize where He has already been faithful. Look for His grace in an ordinary conversation, His provision in a difficult season, His presence in a quiet moment, or His love expressed through someone who simply showed up when you needed them.
May we live with anticipation for what God will do, gratitude for what He is doing, and confidence in who He has always been. And when we find ourselves saying, “Won’t He do it!” may we remember to celebrate not only what we hope He will do tomorrow, but also the faithfulness He has demonstrated every step of the way.
Because He has been faithful. He is faithful. And He will be faithful still.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
