When Miracles Seem Silent: Trusting God’s Mysterious Ways
Verses:1 Kings 17:14-15
"For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’ And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days."
In a world filled with crises and unmet needs, preaching about biblical miracles can sometimes feel like a mockery to those who suffer. When we read of God’s miraculous provision for Elijah through the widow of Zarephath, or of Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes, we may wonder why similar miracles do not happen today in the same way. Why does God not send ravens with bread or multiply food for the hungry in our time? For those enduring similar struggles, these stories can seem distant, even dismissive of their pain. Yet, the truth is far more profound and comforting than we might realize.
God’s ways are not confined to the miraculous acts we read about in Scripture. While He certainly worked in extraordinary ways in the past, His dealings with humanity today are often more mysterious, yet no less powerful. The widow’s jar of flour and jug of oil did not run out, but God’s provision for us may come through the hands of a doctor, the kindness of a stranger, or the unexpected opening of a door. These are not lesser acts of God; they are simply different. They remind us that God is not limited to one way of working. He is the Creator of the earth and all its fullness, and His resources are infinite.
It is easy to feel disillusioned when we do not see tangible miracles in our lives. For those who are hungry, sick, or struggling, the absence of a dramatic intervention can feel like abandonment. Yet, the one who trusts in God learns to see His hand in the ordinary, the natural, and the seemingly coincidental. A cure through medical science, a provision through a job, or a breakthrough in a relationship—all these can be God’s mysterious ways of working. They may not be as visible as a miracle, but they are just as real.
Recognizing God’s help behind these everyday provisions requires spiritual maturity. It is easy to praise God when the Red Sea parts, but it takes faith to see His hand in the quiet, steady provision of daily bread. God respects the growth of our minds and hearts. He does not always give us tangible miracles because He is leading us to a deeper trust in His character and His unseen work. He is teaching us to rely not on the spectacular but on His faithfulness.
God still works today, but His methods are tailored to our growth. He avoids the obvious miracles not because He cannot perform them, but because He desires to engage our faith in a more profound way. He wants us to see Him not just in the extraordinary but in the ordinary, not just in the miraculous but in the mundane. This is not a lesser form of His care; it is a greater one, for it invites us into a deeper relationship with Him.
The earth and its fullness belong to God. Every resource, every solution, every provision is under His control. Whether He chooses to work through a raven, a widow, a doctor, or a stranger, it is all His doing. Our task is to trust, to watch, and to praise Him for His mysterious and wonderful ways.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to see Your hand in every provision, even when it does not come in the form of a miracle. Teach us to trust Your mysterious ways and to recognize Your care in the ordinary moments of life. Strengthen our faith to believe that You are always working, even when we cannot see it. May we grow in maturity, praising You not only for the spectacular but for the steady, unseen ways You provide. Amen.