How Do You Know When the Holy Spirit is Working?

by Madison Ailinger on May 22, 2026

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR MADISON

How do you know when the Holy Spirit is working? It’s a fair question. For some people, they can feel it. For others it is more nuanced, a warm heart, being at the right place at the right time, or even experiencing childlike joy.

When I am struggling with finding where God is working, I go back to the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit is joy, goodness, self-control, love, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, peace, and gentleness, all of which point to the Holy Spirit’s presence. However, God also works in places that do not show those signs.

Proverbs 15 says “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and good.” When we try to put terms on where God is working, we can wander into dangerous territory. It can be easy to say where God is and where God is not. It can be easy for us to say God has left us or is not with certain people, but this cannot be further from the truth. God is everywhere, thus discerning where the Holy Spirit is working is not about discovering where God is, but discerning what God is doing, and then going and being a part of it. “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. This clarification is kindness because it reminds us that God is always with us, but that it is a journey to discover what part we play in this beautiful love story.

As, we journey together, the day of Pentecost can give us some insights about our part in this story. Pentecost is often called the birthday of the church because it reminds us faith is not meant to stay behind locked doors. The Spirit moves people in a forward movement. This can mean moving towards compassion, towards brave acts of love or even towards each other. Pentecost is a story of connection. Our connection to God and our connection to each other. The Spirit did not erase people’s differences but allowed people to understand each other despite them. Perhaps, that is what God is calling us to. In a world deeply divided by politics, and fear, communication too often becomes more shouting than kindness. What if God is calling us to something bigger? What if he is calling us to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us to connect with people different than ourselves. Accepting this call and following the path requires humility and openness, but just maybe in the midst of it, we will discover God’s plan for a world. A world with no more suffering and no more pain. Let’s all push towards that goal in love. Amen.

Tags: pentecost

About the Author

Madison Ailinger

Madison Ailinger serves as Associate Pastor at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. Her journey into ministry began at age 19 while studying at Virginia Tech, when she experienced a profound call from God that has grounded her ever since. After responding to that call, Madison pursued theological training at Duke Divinity School and, at just 24 years old, became the lead pastor of a church in Staunton, Virginia—earning the distinction of being the youngest pastor their congregation had ever welcomed. In Staunton, she witnessed firsthand God’s mercy and presence through moments of celebration and grief alike, having led worship, preached the Good News, and even officiated 14 funerals in three years. Those experiences reinforced her conviction that, even in the shadow of death, God’s love never abandons us.

Madison’s heart for ministry centers on outreach—especially connecting with young people and those who feel lost or disillusioned. She believes that sharing real stories of transformation—stories of encountering God’s voice, of finding hope beyond hardship, and of discovering that “death has lost its sting”—can invite others into a life-altering relationship with Christ. At WUMC, Madison collaborates with staff and lay leaders to create spaces where individuals of all ages can experience that powerful moment of grace. Whether organizing a youth gathering, leading a community service project, or simply listening to someone’s story over a cup of coffee, she emphasizes that it only takes one God-moment to change everything.

Madison lives in Williamsburg with her husband, Ben, whom she met shortly after answering God’s call and who now serves as both a faithful partner and a fellow believer in outreach. Together, they are keeping a close ear to the stories around them—eager to learn what “breathes life into your soul,” what challenges you’ve overcome, and how God has shown up in unexpected ways.