Praise the Invisible
In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Psalm 44:8
Growing up, my Dad had a practice of reminding us that though he didn’t know everything, he knew there were things to know.
He would often give one of us a little slap on the rear as we walked by him and say, “That’s for the stuff I don’t know about.” It was disconcerting to think that he knew there were things for which we needed to be punished. As an adult it has caused me to think about what I don’t know about.
It’s easy for most of us to praise God because “His mercies are new every morning” and “He is our refuge and strength.” These are great praises. But, what about praising God for the things we don’t know about?
Though my Heavenly Father knows all the details of that which my earthly father could only guess (and He lets me live anyway), I do not have a clear picture of what He is doing. What I know is that because of His character He has done plenty to protect and provide for us that we have not seen. We don’t know exactly what those things are, but we know that He has been at work in the background – in the heavenly realm.
Paul tells us that nothing can separate God’s children from the love of Christ. In Romans 8:38-39 he says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
There is a spiritual war going on all the time. At first it’s for our souls. Satan hates for people to come to faith in Christ. He would rather they would be lost in Hell for eternity. When God delivered us from him and saved us, we became a target for Satan’s temptations (and our own desires) to make us ineffective. Satan would like to keep us from knowing God well or building His Kingdom on earth.
But these verses would also say that there must be some threat from things present and things of creation. They are not capable of separating us from God in Christ but we can desire them and be drawn to earthly pleasures and “stuff” so that God is not the most important person in our lives.
When we aren’t separated by these things it is the work of the Almighty Protector and Keeper. (Hallelujah!)
As Christians, God protects us. He prompts us to remember Him. He convicts us of sin so that we will stop and think about what we have chosen over Him. He gives us that little slap and says, “This is for the stuff I’m seeing that you’re not!” Then, He provides that hedge of protection (that we do not see) so we have opportunity to respond to Him and serve Him.
As my Dad “punished” us for what he did not know, will we praise God for what we cannot see?
You touch on an interesting insight, Beth. You ask, “what about praising God for the things we don’t know about?” I love that thought. There are many things in life that I have prayed for and they did not happen. Years later I find out why and I praise God for dodging those bullets for me. I have learned, in the waiting for prayers answered, to trust God’s omniscience. He is good. He is faithful. I can count on these when I don’t know something this side of heaven. Great post!
Such a great post! Yes, I thank God for all He does that I’m not even aware of. Oh, what a Savior! He is so wonderful!!
So comforting to know God is protecting us in all ways even when we can’t see what He’s keeping from us.
I’m thanking him for protecting me from the things that aren’t seen:)
Amen, Julie. Thanks for commenting.
A great reminder! I love knowing the truth that nothing separates us from God! And how convicting it is to think how I don’t really praise God for the things I don’t know He’s doing. Sometimes I do, when I’m waiting for something and don’t know why He’s having me wait. But I should be praising Him all day long, too!
Thanks you, Anneliese. What a Savior, for sure!
Marcie, I, too, have often ended up praising God for NOT giving me what I thought I needed! He is faithful.
Thanks Emily, God bless you that you can praise Him while you wait for Him! It is a gift to have faith so sure!
I love God’s mysteries and surprises. It is such a comfort to know He holds us in His hands and has great plans for us.
Amen, Jessica!
I love the perspective you take in this post, Beth. The reminder that there is so much God does behind the scenes is one I want to take to heart. In those seasons when I don’t “feel” like praising Him, I should do it anyway, because of all the things I don’t see. And I’m thankful that, even though my Heavenly Father does see everything I do in secret, He still loves me.
Beth:
Great article. Praise God for how he protects us and loves us.
Thanks Dave!
Thanks Jeanne, Amen to that last sentence!
What an encouraging word today, Beth! These words, ” I do not have a clear picture of what He is doing. What I know is that because of His character He has done plenty to protect and provide for us that we have not seen,” resonate strongly. I do know His character and I can cling to that no matter how uncertain things are around me. Blessings to you this week!
Thank you, Lisa! And may the Lord bless you also!
Oh what a beautiful truth this is! I love what you wrote today! As I’m reading various posts today, I’m seeing that the Lord has coordinated a theme that I really needed to hear today, an affirmation and a reminder of his rich and deep love, not only of me as a person, but with such forethought and awareness that even things about which I know nothing and can see no evidence, he is already and always covering me and shielding me and protecting me. Praise God! Thank you for the timeliness of this post, Beth!
What an encouragement, thank you! But, as we both know, your thanks for the timeliness belongs to our Lord. He gives us what we need.
Wow, I love this, Beth! I have often thought about this and occasionally prayed in this way, thanking God for the unknown protection and provisions. But your earthly example really brought the point home. Thank you Lord, for all blessings seen and unseen!
Thank you, Melissa,
So true! Praise Him for what we cannot see. He does so much for us that we don’t even know about.
A beautiful way to turn a negative into a positive. Your dad couldn’t see it all, but our heavenly Father sees all and is always good.
You are so right Beth there is a spiritual battle all the time. And a great reminder to praise God for the things we don’t know.
Amen! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Thanks Nancy, The Lord has a way of taking many negatives and letting us see the positive!
Thank you, Ava. I am grateful that our Lord is the Greater in those spiritual battles!