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Each of us, as
we think over our lives, can remember times--probably many of
them--when we expected an unhappy turn of events that never
occurred. Now, in fact, it’s embarrassing to admit just how much
mental energy we dumped into worrying about the misfortune that
never took place.
It’s during times of extended waiting that
we’re most prone to expect the worst. We interview for a job, or
apply to a graduate program, or make a financial investment that
will only prove its worth over time, or write a letter to
someone with whom we’d like to develop a serious relationship.
Then we wait for the results. And wait. And wait. If the reply
or outcome is longer in coming than we expected, fears of
calamity begin to flood our minds.
And our minds are incredibly creative in
the art of “catastrophizing.” Not only do we worry about an
eventual negative outcome, but we obsess about what may be going
on right now: The employer believes we lied about our
qualifications and has decided not to give us the courtesy of a
reply; our college application was rejected by a capricious
registrar and is lost in a mountain of paper in his office; the
financial investment is doing poorly and will never recover; our
friend is offended by our letter and is mocking it to her
friends.
Life, though, is not so predictable; and
God, as C. S. Lewis has said, is not tame. In the end, the
results are sometimes downright gratifying. And we have to admit
that what was going on behind the scenes during all this time of
self-torturing speculation was quite different than we assumed.
When I sent the first manuscript of
Knowing God’s Will to InterVarsity Press in December 1977, I
hoped they would want to publish it. I was also eager for a
quick reply. But when a month passed with no answer, I began to
doubt that the book had caught their attention. When two months
dragged into three, then four, I increasingly feared a negative
response. Any discussion taking place about the book must be
critical, I supposed. Even worse, they may have overlooked my
manuscript altogether and forgotten even to send me a rejection
letter.
Finally, in the middle of May, a letter
arrived. As I read the first page, which outlined some
criticisms of my work, I assumed my worst fears were being
confirmed. Dismayed, I turned to the second page, expecting the
predictable conclusion--that the book wasn’t marketable to their
audience. Instead, the editor went on to say that, overall, they
were pleased with the book. If I would make some
modifications, he explained, they wanted to publish it. I gasped
to realize I wasn’t reading a letter of rejection but
acceptance. This wasn’t what I had anticipated!
In an instant my negative expectations were
shattered. Of course, I was more than happy to have them
crushed. Yet I was astonished to realize how off-base all my
negative speculating had been. It had taken up lots of energy
yet accomplished nothing.
Hope for the Present
As I was reflecting on my experience with
that first manuscript in preparing for this article, I thought
how wonderful it would be if I could be a fly on the wall and
spy behind the scenes in situations like this. If I could
glimpse the unseen circumstances affecting my destiny, I would
often be encouraged by what I found.
But then came a startling thought: If my
faith in Christ is what it ought to be, it should be producing
in me the same reassurance and confidence that I imagine such
clairvoyance would bring. Faith, in fact, should bring even
greater comfort than clairvoyance. If I truly knew
everything going on behind the scenes affecting my life, I would
be unsettled by plenty of it, for I wouldn’t automatically know
how to put it all in right perspective. Yet I have an
extraordinary basis for knowing--simply as a matter of
faith--that Christ is working behind the scenes to bring about
his best for my life. Without knowing any of the details of what
he is doing, I have profound reason to be hopeful.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve been
intrigued with the thought of Christ’s working behind the scenes
in our lives. It’s something I have often thought about and have
written about before. But I don’t believe the significance of it
had ever hit me quite so strongly.
Of this much I’m certain: our need to
appreciate this aspect of Christ’s work is much greater than we
normally realize. One reason we have this need is because we
tend to worry as much about the present as we do about the
future. Much of our anxiety is directed, not just toward what we
fear is coming up, but toward what we imagine is happening
now--in all those areas of our life where we have no control.
Our well being depends upon trusting that Christ holds our
future and our present as well.
We should dwell on the fact that
right now--at this very moment--Christ is working behind the
scenes for our good in countless ways we cannot begin to
recognize. We need to take frequent comfort and encouragement
from knowing this.
Healthy Optimism
This doesn’t mean that we’re called to
blind optimism or uncritical positive thinking. Some pessimism
can be healthy, if it serves as a reality check to keep us from
getting presumptuous. Pessimism can be useful, if it warns us of
the perils of being irresponsible and spurs us to take steps
that are necessary to reach a goal. Far too often, though,
pessimism goes well beyond this healthy stage and undermines our
faith in Christ. We focus on negative possibilities to the point
of obsessing.
As a driver, for instance, it’s vital that
I keep in mind the possibility of having an accident and the
dangers of carelessness behind the wheel. Yet my overriding
attitude needs to be confidence. Too much concentration on the
possible hazards of driving will be detrimental to my safety.
This is a good parallel to how pessimism
and optimism should relate as we walk in faith. When we have
sought God’s direction and taken a step in faith, we have reason
to be optimistic. Some pessimism will keep us alert to
what we need to do, and mindful of our potential to sin and our
need to stay dependent on Christ. It will also prepare us for
disappointment if it does occur. Yet our overriding attitude
should be one of hopeful expectation.
Again, this hope should operate not only as
we envision the future, but as we consider what may be going on
behind the scenes right now. It’s here especially that our faith
often needs a substantial boost.
A Lift from Scripture
Fortunately, Scripture gives us
considerable encouragement at this point. The theme of God’s
working behind the scenes pervades the Bible. And certain
passages proclaim it especially helpfully.
 In
Judges 7:9-15 the warrior Gideon, about to face the troops of
Midian with a much smaller and less-equipped force, is terribly
frightened and doubtful of success. But on the night before
battle God leads him to spy on the enemy camp, giving him a
unique window on God’s hidden activity. Gideon hears one soldier
telling another of a dream he has had of Gideon’s army defeating
the Midianites. He discovers that God is already waging
the battle--giving the enemy a faint heart, so that they will be
an easy match for Israel.
Gideon’s experience is good to keep in mind
when we feel hesitant to take a step of faith. It reminds us
that God is remarkably capable of changing others’ hearts and
rearranging circumstances when he wants us to succeed. We
shouldn’t be quick to draw a gloomy conclusion about what is
happening behind the scenes. Instead of ruminating over possible
disaster, we do better to invest our energy in praying for God’s
help and staying hopeful.
Consider, too, the experience of the widow of Shunem in 2 Kings
8:1-6. Elisha counsels this woman, whose son he had restored to
life, to leave Shunem for seven years in order to avoid a
famine. She obeys, then after this period returns to petition
the king for her land. At the very moment she arrives to meet
with the king, Elisha’s servant Gehazi is talking with him,
telling him about the prophet’s activities. Seeing the woman and
her son, Gehazi presents them to the king as a testimony to
Elisha’s ministry. Then the king, obviously impressed,
“appointed an official for her, saying ‘Restore all that was
hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day
that she left the land until now.’”
This event is a helpful one to remember at
those times when, like the widow of Shunem, we choose to pull
out of the mainstream of life for a personal sojourn of some
sort--to pursue an educational program, for instance, or a
special project. The passage demonstrates how God can arrange
circumstances to help us get a foothold once we’re finished. It
points out, too, the value of sticking with the commitment we’ve
made, and not trying to take unreasonable shortcuts toward our
goal. If the widow had returned early to Shunem out of concern
for preserving her property, she might have defeated her own
purpose.
Then there is the more mysterious incident in 2 Kings 6:15-18,
where God opens the eyes of Elisha’s servant to see the vast
angelic army in chariots of fire ready to fight for them against
Aram. It shows how God’s spiritual forces working behind the
scenes to accomplish his purposes vastly exceed our
comprehension or ability to imagine.
The situation, of course, was unique and
involved a military battle; it would be naive to conclude that
God needs to employ an army of angels to meet most needs that we
face. Yet the passage gives us hope, not just about what is
happening behind the scenes on earth, but in the spiritual realm
as well. We may trust that God will use whatever means needed to
work out his best in the world and in our own lives.
Finally, at this time of year especially, we should consider
what the Christmas story suggests about God’s behind-the-scenes
activity in human life. When Jesus was born, few realized God
was acting in a way that would forever alter the course of
history and the destiny of innumerable lives. For most, it was
simply business as usual. An event had occurred that would make
unprecedented healing and salvation available. Yet few had any
inkling that something unusual had taken place.
As God was working behind the scenes for
the benefit of many at the first Christmas, so he continues to
do in our lives today. Take heart from this unspeakable fact.
And in the midst of this hectic season, take time to reflect on
Christ’s goodness in your life--not only upon his many blessings
that you recognize, but upon the fact that he is providing for
you and protecting you in so many ways that you cannot see. Keep
that thought in mind as you enjoy the festivities of this
season, and let this be an occasion when your faith is
strengthened as well. And may the knowledge that God works
behind the scenes in your life give you the encouragement to
take steps of faith, and to stay hopeful in all of the
challenges that you face.
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