When we think about God’s work in the world, how often do we limit Him to what we can see or understand? The truth is, God is always at work—in us, around us, and through us—in ways that far surpass our imagination. But we often miss it, either because we’ve confined Him to our expectations or because we’ve become too self-reliant to notice His movement.

A Church That Submits to Scripture and the Spirit

Is it possible to belong to a church that fully submits to Scripture while also remaining open to the Spirit’s active and powerful work? Absolutely. But navigating this balance requires humility and a willingness to embrace mystery. We can easily fall into two ditches:

• Hyper-focus on Public Supernatural Manifestations
  Some become overly focused on visible and dramatic displays of the Spirit, assuming His work is only evident when it’s outwardly supernatural.
• Complete Neglect of the Spirit’s Work
  Others become so closed off to the Spirit’s activity that they barely acknowledge His presence, relying instead on their own understanding of Him.

The Spirit doesn’t fit into our boxes. He moves as He wills, often outside of our expectations. God’s mind is far beyond ours, and His plans are infinitely more intricate than we could comprehend.

The Mystery of Faith and the Spirit’s Work

Humans crave certainty. It feels safe, and it makes life more predictable. But faith calls us to something much deeper—it calls us to embrace mystery.

Throughout Scripture, Paul uses descriptive language to explain what the Spirit does, but we often misinterpret it as prescriptive, assuming God works the same way every time. In doing so, we create structures and rules for the Holy Spirit: This is how and where He works.

But the Spirit is not bound by our preferences. What happened at the cross—the once-for-all act of salvation—continues through the Spirit’s ongoing work in and through us. God is always acting, and we are the beneficiaries of His grace.

There’s a mystery to how God works in our lives and in the world. What’s His role? What’s ours? The reality is, there’s nothing we can boast about because it all comes back to Him. When we look back at how the Spirit has worked in the past, we can face the future with faith that He will continue to move in ways we cannot yet see.

Our job is not to control the outcomes but to remain in a posture of trust and readiness, believing that He will meet us in ways we never expected.

When God Feels Distant

Many of us go through seasons where God feels distant. In those times, it’s easy to assume we’ve done something wrong. While sin can create barriers, more often, God is inviting us to trust Him beyond our experiences or feelings. He is an intimate and personal God who meets us in unexpected places.

Think about marriage—there are seasons of distance, even in the healthiest relationships. But that doesn’t mean the love or the commitment is gone.

Similarly, your status before God hasn’t changed just because you feel distant. Instead of letting feelings dictate your engagement with Him, remind yourself of what He’s already done, and show up. He meets us when we bring our honest feelings to Him.

Relying on the Spirit

The beauty of the gospel is that the **Holy Spirit—the indwelling presence of God—**is available to all believers. You were never intended to do this life on your own. The Spirit is your source of power, wisdom, and guidance, and He’s the one building His church. When we stop relying on ourselves and yield to Him, we access rivers of living water that refresh and sustain us.

This truth is freeing: It doesn’t all depend on you.

But with that power comes a challenge. If the Spirit lives in us, why do we tolerate sin in our lives? Why do we settle for less when we have access to God’s transforming presence? The Holy Spirit is not just a helper; He’s a guide and a source of conviction, inviting us to live fully connected to Him.

God Is Always at Work

God is at work in your story and in the stories of others in ways you can’t yet see. When you look back at His faithfulness, you’ll find the confidence to trust Him with your future. He wants to address the areas of your heart that you’d rather hide, to bring healing and transformation.

He is moving toward you, even in seasons where you feel distant or discouraged. Show up. Trust Him. He will take you to places you never imagined, doing far more than you could ever imagine.