How Does God Show Up For You?

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV).

One of my favorite questions to ask people is how they hear from God. It has always been so fascinating to me when I hear all the ways God shows up for His children. I absolutely love that He knows each of our hearts on such an intimate level that He always seems to weave messages into the mundane of everyday life at just the right time. For example, flowers have recently found their way into holding a more significant place in my heart. Prior to the last couple of years, I was never a very big flower girl. It’s not that I don’t like them, because I do, but they just never seemed to carry too much meaning. Until I started seeing the Lord show up in them in big ways. A particular story, that is one of many, comes to mind.

As a physical therapist, I daily spend time with folks in a way that provides opportunity to engage with them on a personal level as I help them work back from physical injury. There was a particular patient I was seeing at the time that I’d been working with for quite a while who began sharing some of their story with me. Back and forth, we chatted as we worked and I shared just a glimpse of what was going on in my life as well. I was going through a really tough time and it was probably the most difficult season of my life thus far. I was in the midst of working through significant struggles in a close friendship, I was being relied upon more heavily at my job, I had just recently bought my first home, and I began to feel the Lord really pulling on my heart for growth and healing. Weekly counseling, tear-filled showers and long drives spent crying out to God in prayer marked that particular season of my life.

As this patient departed the clinic, they said to me “prayers help” and I think we ended the session that day both feeling a little better and more encouraged. Fast forward a couple of days and a beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived for me at work with a card that simply read “prayers help.” The flowers came without a name on the card, but I wasn’t surprised. My patient and I had talked about the importance of going to the Lord first in prayer, rather than turning to others. Wow! I was so grateful for the beautiful flowers, but mostly for how deliberate they were with the gesture. I found myself in awe as God showed up with flowers and reminded me, no matter my circumstances or the depth of my pain, that He is good and I can trust Him.

Another story that comes to mind happened several years ago when I was out of town for three to four days on a trip down to Tennessee during spring break. The trip was great, but I specifically remember knowing I would be returning to a yard that desperately needed some TLC. I have had a terrible string of bad luck when it comes to lawn mowers, so I was not looking forward to facing the task of trying to get mine started. After arriving back in Lexington, I threw my bags into the car and headed for home. I turned onto my street and, much to my surprise, pulled into my driveway to a beautifully manicured yard. Now, to some of you it might seem silly that I was so excited, but I’m telling you, I was thrilled! I’m assuming it may have been a neighbor, but to this day, I still don’t know for sure who it was that took care of this for me while I was gone. But, in that moment, I really felt as if I heard the Lord speak to my heart and remind me, you are not alone and I will always take care of you. What a beautiful and tender way for the Lord to show up in my life!

The buzz of an unexpected text message from a friend reminding me that I’m loved.  A box filled with my favorite food left on the table just outside my door. A surprise delivery of flowers to the office. Fertilizer on my front yard to help my grass grow. A friend doing a maintenance check on my car before a long road trip. Free of charge check on my fireplace so I could enjoy warmth during the cold winter.

This is just a short list, but I am challenging myself daily to call to mind all the ways God has shown up for me. When I am intentional to do this, I am reminded, time and time again, that God expressed himself to me in the hearts of His people. He is so very faithful to constantly remind me that I am seen, I am known, and the King of Kings unconditionally loves me. He wants to do the same for you.

So, what does your list look like? I am encouraging you today to sit down and think about how God shows up for you. Write down specific examples and remember, everyday, but especially on the hard days. When you find yourself filled with fear, rattled with anxiety, wrestling with a confused heart, or any number of emotions that draw you away from the Lord, you can look at your list and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. Flip to Jeremiah 29:13 in your Bible and there you’ll find these words: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” I am challenging you to memorize this verse. Write these words at the top of your list. Be purposeful. Seek the Lord. Look for Him with all your heart and He will always be faithful to show up.