Small Graces

Most of us have needs in our lives. Spiritual, emotional, financial, physical, relational, practical, and on and on. We pray about these things, asking God for what we need. We don't always get an answer right away...sometimes not for a very long time. Don't let your faith be shaken, and don't let anyone tell you that that proves that God doesn't care or that He doesn't exist. Instead, be on the look out for small graces. Here is an examples from my own life that occured just recently. I was very upset about a family situation and needed time to think and pray, but the busy day had already begun. It was morning and time to take the dog on her walk. Now I adore my dog she is a blessing to me but...she's very excitable during her walks and pulls just enough to make me walk faster than I want to be walking (Gosh, I hope our obedience instructor doesn't read this, she'll be calling us in for remedial trainingLOL) . Anyway, I was thinking as I was getting ready to walk out the door "I wish Maggie walked nicer so I could take a longer walk and have time to think things through". Inexplicably (if your forget to see God's hand in everything) Maggie walked along beautifully, not pulling, no picking up a scent and getting excited, she just walked along by my side with the leash slack in the "J" shape trainers are always talking about. We took a nice peaceful, long walk and I had time to think and pray. I was amazed and thought if God could work through a donkey (see the story of Balaam) then he could work through a border collie!! It was a small grace. Not the answer to my BIG prayer about the family situation that so upset me, but a smaller need met through His mercy and grace that helped me deal with things on that particular day. I've learned to recognize these small graces and thank God for each one. I often tell God that small favors are appreciated and never go unnoticed by me. These small reprieves from our struggles, those little things that go right in the midst of everything else that's going wrong can literally be a lifeline for us. Sometimes they may seem trivial, or happening by mere coincidence or chance, but I've learned not to be decieved, they are in fact the hand of God at work caring for us and helping us moment by moment. When you can begin to recognize these small graces (write them down in a book) you begin to see the love of God in your daily life. Sure the BIG problems may still be there but now you know that God is at work in the small stuff and that means He's at work in the BIG stuff even if you can't percieve what He's doing yet. Look for small graces and give thanks.


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