Invisible Work and Other Unseen Things

"We live by believing, not by seeing." 2 Corinthians 5:7

I swept up the muffin crumbs from the kids' breakfast in the morning.
No one appreciates what I do, I thought.
While the youngest watched cartoons, and the older ones were off at school, I emptied the trash can and shined the kitchen sink.  
No one cares about this mess, my mind continued.
Next, I'll hit the grocery store for a few items we've run out of in the fridge.  
And my family will not see any of this.  My work is invisible.

But I remembered that there are many invisible things in this world that are felt nonetheless.  The business of joy, of faith, of love, and of God are mostly unseen. They move in and out of our days accomplishing much. Needed and important work.

"No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:12

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

The list of unseen things goes on: kindness, generosity, justice... If these were absent, we would surely miss their effects.  Just as my family would feel the impact of my work left undone.

We have to care less about who notices us in the middle of soaking up a spill. God rewards our secret toil.  He blesses our faithfulness.  And our family reaps immense benefits from our willingness to care about crumbs and dishes. 

We are His hands. This is His work.

"Then your giving will be done secretly. Your Father will reward you. He sees what you do secretly." Matthew 6:4

But even how Heaven will respond to the work of our hands is a mystery.  We may not see much beyond the supernatural peace delivered to us.  But the invisible gifts are just as equally felt:

When our family is healthy;
When our hearts are content;
When our homes are in order.

Those are the results of obedient, quiet work.  

No matter how I feel, as the day moves along, and the tasks increase, I must not forget that God sees me.  

My invisible work is a product of my invisible faith. And that pleases God.

"So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. What can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:18