God's Goodness in the Unexpected
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
Sometimes, in the midst of our busy lives, God has a way of reminding us to slow down and notice His goodness.
This past Sunday morning, I was heading to church, focused on the sermon I was about to share and the blessing of participating in a baptism. But before I could get out the door, the cat got sick, my keys seemed to disappear, and I needed a lint roller to remove the cat hair from my pants! My peaceful Sunday morning was quickly turning into a stressful one.
Then, as I pulled out of the driveway, three beautiful deer peacefully crossed the road in front of me. Each one seemed to look directly at me. Their beauty and calm presence brought an unexpected smile to my face. I took a deep breath and simply thanked God.
What a beautiful reminder that God's goodness doesn't always come in grand or extraordinary moments. Sometimes it comes in three deer crossing our path, a beautiful sunrise, a kind word, a helping hand, or a moment of unexpected peace in the middle of a hectic day.
God is continually surrounding us with reminders of His love and presence. We just need to slow down enough to notice them. Perhaps those deer didn't change my schedule or make my morning less hectic, but they changed my heart in that moment. They reminded me that even when life feels hurried and things don't go as planned, God is still present, still good, and still finding ways to bless us. Don't let the busyness of life cause you to miss the little gifts God places along your path. Sometimes the smallest and most unexpected moments become the ones that remind us most of how deeply we are loved.
Gracious God, thank You for the big blessings and the little surprises. Open our eyes to see Your goodness in the extraordinary, ordinary moments of each day, and help us carry Your peace and joy wherever we go. Amen.