Hidden In Plain Sight

"Where on earth can my jacket be?" I wondered. Uncharacteristically, I had mislaid my favourite jacket. Though it has seen plenty of wear, I like it for its suitability to most weather conditions. Many of us love an old, familiar garment and choose to hang onto it, even when it starts to fade and fray. This jacket is a good case in point.

I mentally retraced my steps over the previous week, trying to remember how and where I might have left my jacket. I asked at my most-frequented coffee shop if one had been turned in to lost-and-found. I searched all over my own apartment, in my car, and even at my daughter's house.

I finally thought to check the coat rack next to the puzzle table in the lobby of my retirement community building. There it was, hanging in plain sight. I must have laid my jacket on a nearby chair when I stopped by to work on the puzzle one day, leaving it behind when I left. Even though I never hang my jacket on that coat rack, a kind soul must have hung it up for me, and there it waited for several days as I diligently searched for it — everywhere else.

We also often overlook the obvious things that God is willing to make clear to us –- if only we're willing to look in the right place. We know without a doubt that God cares about our concerns, big or little. But all too often, we restrict our prayers to little things such as a convenient parking space or an open table at a restaurant, while trusting life's big matters –- life-altering decisions, family crises, and financial needs –- to "experts" or even just common wisdom. Perhaps, we underestimate or mistrust God's power to deal with large concerns, or perhaps, we don't want to risk dealing with an undesirable answer from God. Let's trust Him with His mighty power in every aspect of our lives.

He knows our needs and has the resources of His entire universe at His disposal. Our part in the equation is to have an open and sincere seeking heart, trusting Him to answer and provide in the way that He knows is best, not just in the way that we choose.

Luke 11:10-13 – For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. (NLT)

Let's go first to our heavenly Father with our needs and concerns, knowing that He loves and cares for us.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we are so often short-sighted, seeing only our immediate needs without knowing the bigger picture of life. May we give You all of our concerns, big and small, trusting You to answer and provide as You know best. Amen.

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