When Gratitude Surprises You

Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

We arrived early, ready to set up our booth for the day and acclimate ourselves to where we’d be spending the next several hours as a part of a women’s retreat, the first one we’d been to in a while. We were greeted by Elizabeth, the event organizer, who hugged us and showed us where we could set up. She then explained the grounds as we walked around the old farmstead, now turned into an event space mainly hosting weddings and small gatherings.

As we set up our book table and women started to arrive, they filtered through the old barn doors and found open seats around the handcrafted wooden tables decorated with flowers. As their chatter began to swell, I whispered to Julie, “I’ve missed this.” She smiled back as she nodded in agreement. We spent the afternoon visiting with women, being encouraged and offering encouragement in return. The participants shared stories, laughed, shed a few tears, and nodded in understanding as truth lay bare. The day went more quickly than I wanted.

As we began the drive home, my heart was full. I hadn’t even realized how much I had missed gathering with others. Sometimes things seep so slowly from your life that it’s not until you experience them again that you realize how much you had missed their presence. Community. I didn’t realize how much I longed for it until I found it again.

God knows what we need, even before we ask him. Even when we do not know or have forgotten. He is so good. We never have to worry whether God has our best in mind (he does!), and since he already knows what we need, we can trust that he will gently remind us of what is most beneficial and what we’re missing in our lives.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Can you think of something you’ve slowly let go of lately that God would remind you is good for you? Thank God for it, and make a plan to incorporate it back into your life.