Signs and Wonders

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

— Genesis 9:13 (NIV)

The Bible is full of miraculous signs of God’s presence: a rainbow after the earth was flooded, a burning bush that was not consumed, the protection of men in a den of lions and a fiery furnace, water turned to wine, and walking on water. These are just a few of the wonders we encounter in scripture. To be honest though, such signs are difficult for me to comprehend and they leave me a bit incredulous. Though my life has been marked by God’s grace and love, I have not experienced signs and wonders like these. But I don’t think signs of God’s presence and love need to be dramatic or supernatural to make a significant difference in our lives. 

In this issue of The Upper Room, writers describe ordinary events that took on new meaning because, through them, they felt God’s presence. A tree growing from a rock, notes in a lunchbox that spark holy conversation, sports teams cheering each other on, an extra place set at the table — each of these are signs of God’s presence and love in the world. When we pay attention to and receive ordinary moments of grace as reassurance of God’s love and care, our lives become richer and more connected to God’s ongoing work in the world. And when we allow this deeper connection to the Divine to shape our words and actions, we make God’s presence a little easier for others to see as well. How will you remain alert to signs of God’s presence in the coming weeks?