As I have spent time having dialogue with students and leaders during my first days in India I have been struck by the importance of small words in the Bible. I have met with people from the covenant community in Jaipur. They are all interested in what the Bible says, but I have noticed that they have the same tendency as my Norwegian friends. When we look at a portion of the Scripture and want to find out what it says,we have the tendency to quickly jump to conclusions, ignoring the small words that could have brought deep insight.

Recently I have become aware of a lot of such important words related to time: Instantly, as soon as, immediately, today, now, and meanwhile. The last word is an interesting word. It is being used many times in the book of Acts. Often the word is being used to help us understand that many happenings are interrelated even though the main acting characters don't know of each other and what is taking place at another place at the same time.

I have been deeply blessed by discovering through this small word, meanwhile, that God is at work in many people or groups of people and places, at many different levels, in the visible and invisible realm, at the same time, without the people involved being aware of it, but deeply effected by it. I have found that when people respond with instant obedience to the word of God or the revealed will of God, the entire universe is meanwhile being coordinated to accomplish astonishing things to those obedient people or bringing outstanding effects to their active obedience. One simple good deed is turned into a great miracle to others.

I have found great comfort in knowing that God is involved in my life and my world, and that he is in full control. This little word, meanwhile, has highlighted God's sovereignty in a new way to me. I have been amazed to discover how many things and happenings are connected or directed by the finger of God.

God is certainly at work in our age, in multiple ways and levels. As I feel stuck in a situation, or I am on my knees crying to God, or if I just do what I think is right at the moment, I am still part of something greater than myself, the very purpose of God, because of the "meanwhile" of the Sovereign One.