God is Always at Work
My brother-in-law was recently given a rare privilege. He is a behind the scenes actor in the Cobra Kai series, which is being filmed in Atlanta. The series is a spin off from the blockbuster movie from the 1980’s, The Karate Kid. It even has many of the same actors, including Ralph Macchio. I haven’t watched the series, but as a child who grew up in this decade, The Karate Kid was one of my favorite movies. I think every red-blooded boy of my era was fascinated with the “crane technique” and we mimicked it regularly with our friends. I must confess that I still pull out the movie and watch it from time to time. They just don’t make movies like they did back then.
If you are familiar with the film, you know that one of the most dramatic scenes is when Mr. Miyagi, Daniel’s friend and mentor who teaches him karate, reveals everything Daniel has learned. You see, Daniel, who is 16, is being bullied by some boys who know karate, and Mr. Miyagi volunteers to train him so that Daniel can face these teenage bullies in a local karate tournament and earn their respect. Yet, Daniel’s training is not what he expects from Mr. Miyagi. Instead of learning karate, Daniel is told to wash and wax Mr. Miyagi’s cars, paint his fence, sand his outdoor floors, and paint his house. After several days of this, Daniel has had enough. He does not understand how any of this has to do with karate. He gets angry and prepares to leave. He thinks this has all been a waste of time.
What Daniel does not know is that he has been learning vital karate moves with every chore he is given. Waxing the cars is one block, as is paining the fence, and the house. Sanding the floor is yet another. And in this dramatic scene, Mr. Miyagi shows Daniel all he has learned, as he attacks him, and Daniel blocks his every move. Daniel is stunned. Dumbfounded. All this time, Mr. Miyagi has known exactly what was going on, even though Daniel has had no clue. Mr. Miyagi has simply asked for trust and obedience from Daniel. And now Daniel sees why.
If you are like me, you have likely discovered the same type of pattern with God. There are periods in our lives when we have no idea what he is up to, why certain things have happened the way they have. All we know is that we are to trust and obey. And then there’s that moment when it all becomes clear, when we look back and see exactly what God was doing, and how we are stronger because of trusting him with what we did not know. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” And what is faith? Verse 1 of the same chapter tells us that it is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
So do not be discouraged this week. God is up to more than you know. Give it time. Keep trusting. Keep living the life Jesus died and rose again for you to live. Keep seeking him first. Make the best decisions with his guidance you can make, and in time, you may just see how God’s hand has been at work in ways you never knew.
