Have you ever been through a tough, even painful situation, then years later realized that God had been at work in your life that whole time? Maybe during that season, He felt far away, or perhaps it even felt like God didn’t care. But hindsight showed that wasn’t the case at all — He was there through it all, working it out on your behalf and His, working it all for good.
When we are in difficult circumstances, sometimes it’s hard to see the hand of God working directly in your life. At these times you might wonder if it is true that God works “behind the scenes,” unseen by most but there nonetheless, fulfilling His purpose and plan in so many different ways.
The answer to this is yes — God does indeed work behind the scenes, as well as in full view of all. God is working always.
God is working behind the scenes. The term “behind the scenes” comes from the theater. Often, violent scenes occurred offstage —or, behind the scenes — where the more genteel public would not be frightened or offended. It also refers to the extensive work done offstage to prepare for a theatrical production, including sound effects, stage blocking, and directing.
Today, it is used to refer to work done outside of the public eye, such as the many details involved in a gala, convention, or performance so the production will be a success.
When we say God works “behind the scenes,” we’re saying He is at work even when we cannot see Him.
Yes. There are a number of verses that point to God orchestrating circumstances that we cannot see, recognize, or comprehend.
God says through the Prophet Isaiah that people when they see God’s might and are surprised and humbled by it, will know that He is Lord of all.
“Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Savior of Israel,” it says in Isaiah 45:15 (NIV). Other translations use the term “a God that people cannot see” (NCV) or “who conceals himself” (GNT). The Message translation uses, “a God who works behind the scenes.”
Many years later, Jesus told the Jewish leaders God is always at work — even on the Sabbath. After He healed the paralyzed man at the Sheep Gate pool and the leaders questioned the audacity of His working on God’s day of rest, we’re told, “In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working’” (John 5:17, NIV).
And after Simon Peter questioned Jesus for washing his feet, instead of the other way around, Jesus said, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7).
Just because we don’t see God at work doesn’t mean He is not at work.
God works in mysterious ways, the Bible tells us, and we don’t fully understand His timing. Indeed, as Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
Often, we see God at work after a situation is complete. For example, we might wonder why God made Abraham and Sarah wait many years for a child, then ask for that same child as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). In retrospect, we can see God was working a glorious miracle, teaching a lesson, and orchestrating a test of faith.
We might wonder why God allowed the Egyptians to slaughter all the newborn baby boys (Exodus 1:22). Why didn’t He intervene? Did He not care? Then we realize it was so Moses could be spared, raised in an Egyptian home, and become the man to lead God’s people out of slavery and toward the Promised Land.
We cannot know the mind of God, but we can trust that He has a plan. Sometimes he works behind the scenes to help us learn to turn to Him and desire a relationship with Him. Other times, He is teaching us how to walk in faith. And other times, He is concealing His purpose until the appointed time.
The important thing is that should we try our best to cling to hope during these times and know that God is indeed working.
As we are told in Romans 8:28, do not despair when difficult situations occur, for “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
There are many other scriptures that show how God is always working, even when we cannot see Him. Here are a few:
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (1 Corinthians 12:6)
I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber (Psalm 121:1-3).
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him (Psalm 28:7)
As (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing (John 9:1-7)
If you are in a moment of darkness because you feel abandoned by God, perhaps as if God no longer loves you or is working in your life, take heart. God is always working, in the good and in the bad, in public and behind the scenes. He is always working.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean That We Are God’s Workmanship?
What Does it Mean That the Lord Is My Strength and Shield?
Is it Biblical ‘Where God Guides, He Provides’?
What Does it Mean ‘To Let Go and Let God’?
If We Acknowledge God, Will He Direct Our Paths?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Anna Frank