But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” (John 5:17 NLT)

We live very close to an industrial area in one of the suburbs of the City of Newcastle. Along with steel manufacturing, Newcastle is now mostly known for its coal exportation from the harbour, where local coal is loaded onto supply ships and where arriving cargo ships unload their containers. Most of the time, you can’t really hear any industrial noise, although at night, when everyone is locked away inside, and the busyness of the cars has died down, you can hear a faint hum in the background. I don’t mind it; it actually sounds like the surf, so sometimes I like to pretend that’s what I can hear.

It is common to hear the ship horns blowing as they sound out their readiness to leave the harbour to travel across the expansive oceans to foreign countries. I love the sound of their horns, a constant reminder that God is readying His people.

The other week I got up in the night to spend time with the Lord. I promptly sat myself in the living room in the darkness and stillness to be with Him. After a short while, I became conscious of the industrial noise, as it rang clearly through the silence of the night; the volume turned up a few notches due to the cloudless night skies. There was the clanging of steel, the hum of engines and the occasional male voice heard in the breeze. I was tempted to close the window, except it would have made it too stuffy in the house, so I left it open.

To my surprise, I could hear the coal trains that would typically go unnoticed during the day. As I listened, I imagined all the floodlights lit up around the cemented work sites, with all the men unloading and loading, everybody in their overalls and fluorescent safety vests, their steel cap boots and safety helmets, calling out and hand signalling their directions as they worked through the night. Oddly, it gave me some sense of comfort. I thanked the Lord for the knowledge that some were working diligently away while the rest of us were oblivious, tucked away in our comfy beds, sleeping.

I realised this is what God is like. Jesus said, ‘My Father is always working, and so am I’. While we’re all asleep, snuggled and safe, our daily routines and labours having come to an end, God is still working. He is the God who neither sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:4). When we awake, He is there (Psalm 139:18). He has been awake all night, working to His plan and purpose faithfully, diligently and steadfastly.

I pondered this new insight and felt like I had caught God in the act, like a child spying through the balusters seeing ‘Santa’ (mum or dad) putting presents under the Christmas tree. Of course, God knew I was there; He knew I’d caught Him out. And like I imagine ‘Santa’ might do, I’m certain He was having a little giggle, pretending He hadn’t noticed me so as not to ruin the childlike thrill I was experiencing.

How comforting to know that God is always working. He never once falls asleep on the job. He and His Son have got both the day and night shifts covered. They are faithful, diligent, and relentless in their purpose, and they are guarding and watching over us, even while we are completely unaware, even ignorant of the fact.

As a child, I remember that sense of comfort and peace when at night, I could hear my mother or father were still up, walking through the house, doing various things. What peace this gives us. To be assured, that even if we think we are alone, God is still up. He’s not asleep at all. We can breathe a sigh of relief and reassurance, knowing He is there. He’s not left, He’s not nodded off or clocked off from His shift.

God’s faithfulness far surpasses ours. We slumber. We sleep. We nod off. We can only last so long before our bodies need to shut down and recuperate. But not God.

I pray that you, my friend, carry that same sense of assurance and peace in your heart as you are reminded that He is still there. He is still working on your life toward His end. Even when you don’t know it, when you can’t hear Him, you can’t see Him. He’s not forgotten. He’s not slackened off. You can rest, you can breathe easily and deeply. He’s got you covered. He’s still working.