My youngest daughter casually mentioned she wanted a cozy pink chair in her room. So, I put my treasure-hunting skills into place and went on Facebook Marketplace.
Honestly, this type of hunt would typically be a lengthy search. Especially because she already has two shades of pink that accent her room, and I needed to find a chair that matched. When you shop used, it makes finding the perfect fit a challenge! So when a cozy PINK chair appeared in my “accent chair” search, I was FLOORED!
It was literally the PERFECT match!
When I messaged the woman to see if the chair was still available, I offered her a bit less than her posting price. (I like the game of a good deal, ha!) She proceeded to tell me she’d take less than my offer.
WHAT?!
Who does that?
Never in my almost two decades of treasure hunting has anyone countered my low offer at a lower price!
EVER!
Not only was I SHOCKED to find a color that matched her accents perfectly, but the price decrease made it feel like this chair was a gift for my daughter.
One she honestly didn’t expect to get.
This moment reminded me of the many times I knew God was showing up in the details of my life. I realize the Bible very clearly says not to store up earthly treasures where moths and vermin can destroy them (Matthew 6:19-21), but as I’ve walked with Jesus and done life with Him, He’s shown up in little secret ways, sending whispers to my heart that say, “I know you, I see you; I delight in the details of your life.”
I want to make this very clear before I go on…I know how to live on little, and I know how to live on plenty — Jesus is my source through all seasons. I never chase after “things.” Ever! I chase after Him, and He shows up in these private little moments that no one else would know about and meets the little random whispers of my heart that no one knew about but Him.
I call them God-incidences because life with God is not a coincidence. They are divine moments that whisper to our hearts that we get to grab hold of if we’re paying attention.
These moments are gifts from His heart to ours.
Life can be filled with hurt and trauma, but as we do life with Jesus and pay attention to those small details, we can see a glimpse of His heart in the hard. They’re little moments of reprieve that we don’t have to chase down or try to obtain — He freely gives as the best Father would.
I have so many stories I could share with you but this one in particular is at the forefront of my mind. Now, to reiterate, I’m not a materialistic person at all. My home is decorated with all second-hand furniture and decor I’ve found thrifting over the years. My wardrobe highlights are usually from Ross. You know, the place where you can dress for less. I’m also aware that my God stories could mean literally nothing to you because the random ways that God touches my heart, would not touch yours.
Know this — He knows what touches your heart — start to pay attention.
They are gifts from Him.
One day, I had a random thought that popped into my mind. When I say random, I’m not exaggerating. I thought, “I’d love to have a designer bag one day.”
End of thought.
I was a single mom raising four kids on my own and barely making it financially. Honestly, I really wasn’t making it financially at all. I was trusting God with every step, believing He was my provider. So, dreaming about a designer bag was not a focus for me…putting gas in my car and making sure bills were covered was my priority.
Through it all, I loved to help my friends. One of them casually mentioned she was overwhelmed by the lack of structure in her home. I love to organize, so I told her I’d come over and help. We went room by room, and before I left, I would set her up with “homework” to do in between my visits. One of her assignments was to create piles to donate. The next day, I went over to pick up where we left off, and she had three bags for me to drop off at a donation center. She told me to look through the bags first because she thinks there may be something in there I’d like. I didn’t think much of it, but she knew my family situation, and I felt she was trying to help in any way she could by letting me see if there was anything I could use that I couldn’t afford.
I thanked her.
After I left, I went through the bags.
I found used clothes, shoes, miscellaneous items, some kitchenware, and what I pulled out next took me by complete surprise…
A DESIGNER BAG!
I couldn’t believe it. I just stood there shocked, and then I heard God whisper to my heart, “I heard your secret thought — I love you.”
Tears filled my eyes in that private, quiet moment. Life was very hard in that season. My heart was shattered, and, in many ways, I was barely holding on, and He met me through the gift of helping a friend who needed me as much as I needed her.
I don’t believe God shows up like this all the time, and my faith is certainly not hinged on needing these experiences. I’ve been through seasons of severe devastation where I felt like I was barely holding on, but I have learned that in the midst of hard — God shows Himself to me through a dove flying over my head as I’m praying or that captivating sunset He painted in the sky.
He is always with us, whispering hope and promise, revealing His presence in those quiet moments.
But — I also believe He wants to meet us in ways that show us even though that secret little wish is not important; He still likes to give gifts to His children.
He doesn’t want “things” to take His place, but He wants to show us that as we delight in Him, He meets us in those quiet desires of our hearts.
He loves watching us receive His gifts — let’s be sure we acknowledge they are from Him and give Him praise.
Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
-Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
