God’s Providence in the Small Things: A True Story of Answered Prayer

 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Dear Friends,

Is God really in control of everything – even small things we might not expect? While some people might call unexpected moments chance or even fate, those who know God understand: nothing happens outside His sovereign plan. He orchestrates all things—big and small—for His glory and our good.

A Sudden Urge – God’s Providence

Often God uses people’s decisions and prayers to accomplish His will, and this week I experienced God’s providence in a very real answer to prayer. Late Friday morning, I had a sudden urge to drive to Xenia, a town near my home. There really was no pressing need, but for some reason I felt prompted to take the 20 minute drive to pick up a loaf of bread I had forgotten to purchase the previous day.

On the way, Emily called and said she with her three young children were also headed to Walmart. She offered to pick up the bread for me. I appreciated the gesture, but since I was almost there, I told her I’d meet her.

When I arrived, I hugged my sweet grandchildren, purchased my bread, and headed back out to the parking lot. As I was pulling away towards home, Emily called, concerned because she had misplaced her keys. I quickly turned around, pulled into a parking spot next to her van, and offered to watch the children, so she could go back in and look for them.

A Simple Prayer

After about twenty minutes of searching there was still no sign of the keys, so I suggested to Archie and Jesse that we pray and ask God to help in the search – after all, He knew where the keys were even if we didn’t. I prayed and then four-year old Archie chimed in with his own prayer. 

Moments later, Emily called again, now on the verge of panic, because the keys were still missing and she didn’t have another set. 

I decided I would take the children back into the store and help her search. When we walked through the entrance, I asked the boys to tell me where they had gone first, and we started to retrace their earlier route. We checked the bandaid aisle. Then we wandered through the pharmacy section while they tried to remember where they had been.

Archie, looking around, suddenly recalled that they had looked at lamps, so we moved in that direction. That’s when I saw them! The large black ring of keys lay halfway down the lighting aisle on the left bottom shelf.

Giving God Glory

I screamed with joy at the sight of them, startling another lady who was shopping in the same aisle. Briefly, I explained the situation to her; how God, in His providence, had answered our prayers by helping us find the missing keys. 

Then, I called Emily who quickly found us and joined our noisy celebration. While we were rejoicing, two of our friends happened to wander down the lighting aisle, and, of course, I had to tell them the story too. 

Some may dismiss this random event as a coincidence. But I know the truth. And now, so do Emily, Archie, Jesse, the woman in the lighting aisle – and all of you. 

God, in His providence, really does cause all things, even an unplanned trip for a loaf of bread and a frantic search for lost keys, to accomplish His plan. All things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Especially, when in those things, He gets all the glory!

Love,

Mama

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