I am sure that God, who began a good work within you,

will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until

His task is finally finished….

Philippians 1:6

This week I spotted an enticing swathe of sunshine on the family room rug. It had been a busy day. Not only had it started at 4:45 that morning with a two-mile walk, but I had worked in a classroom filled with kids, attended planning meetings, and run errands. When I walked in the door 12 hours later, knowing I’d need to prepare dinner and supervise homework before driving kids to Boy Scouts and 4-H, I longed to step away from my schedule to feel the rays of sunshine reach down into my inner core. I longed to close my eyes and slow my racing mind. I knew if I could quiet myself and ask for the Son’s touch, I could begin to sort out some of what God had done that day in my life. The prospect of stopping long enough to consider His ways would energize me for the remainder of the evening.

I set my things on the kitchen table and lay down on the carpet. The kids said I looked silly and wondered why I did not choose the couch. Because the carpet was the only place where I could experience that glorious sunshine, I did not mind how I looked. That’s because I’m warming to the idea that God is at work, penetrating deeply into my attitudes and thinking. To know He cares about me and the whole lot of us on this planet invigorates me. To understand that we will have to respond in profound ways, to change and adjust because we long to be close to Him and desire a better life … now that is the great challenge!

Can you identify God’s hand in the workings of your life? To observe His movement, it is essential that we understand His methodologies. For example, God moves consistently yet slowly. And for good reason: Most of us are afraid to face the truth. With wisdom and care God will reveal truths with perfect timing and in ways we will be able to accept. Does this mean it may take us years to understand our lives? Or human nature in general? Or be able to accept great disappointment? Or learn to practice forgiveness? It does. But the lessons will present themselves and we will be asked to face the truth, not what we wish was the truth or hoped the truth would be.

God also moves slowly, not only because we are slow to learn, but most of us are highly resistant to the possibility of potentially painful and scary lessons. And yet, once we understand that God is loving and trustworthy and forgiving, even the painful and scary can become acceptable, for we know beyond the pain is a better life.

God is consistent and slow to move in our lives because He knows we must unlearn bad habits and practic before the positive responses become the new normal. A look back to the Old Testament reveals again and again how the Israelites made mistakes, yet God never gave up on them. He continued to interact with them, knowing that with enough history His people would not only come around, but also trust His promises and His requirements of them.

Not only does God often take the little by little approach to grooming us, but He is occasionally undetectable if we do not take the time to move His direction, spend time with other believers, participate in Bible studies or read the Bible on our own, and worship Him. And while most of us will assume God is not working and complain bitterly about it, He is most certainly moving–gently and carefully. To avoid this frustration, you may wish to begin a journal. Record the events of the day that seem noteworthy. Write out your prayers. Include letters or poetry, lyrics and drawings. Then look back on your journal entries from time to time. God will reveal His lessons with amazing clarity.

Most of all, practice patience and fight against the desire to be discouraged. Surround yourself with people who long to grow and learn. Challenge yourself on a daily basis. Then talk about your lessons. Those around you need your wisdom, encouragement and enlightenment. You will need theirs. And we all need the Sonshine.

Freelance writer Joan Bay Klope’s e-mail address is jbklope@hotmail.com.