God's Gentle Reminders Come in Unexpected Ways

Every once in a while, there is a week that feels like God is quietly reminding you that He sees you. Not through dramatic miracles or extraordinary circumstances, but through ordinary moments that become extraordinary because of the love behind them. This has been one of those weeks for me.

Earlier this week, I met a friend for lunch, and somewhere in the middle of our conversation she began sharing what Light Still Stands has meant to her. She told me she has cried several times while reading it because she sees herself in the characters and connects so deeply with their journeys. Then she shared something that touched me even more. She isn't rushing to finish the book. Instead, she's intentionally reading it slowly, savoring each chapter and taking time to reflect before moving on to the next.

As an author, I don't know that there is a greater compliment than that. Of course, I hoped people would enjoy Light Still Stands, but my deepest prayer was never simply that readers would finish the story. I prayed they would pause, wrestle with the questions the characters wrestle with, recognize pieces of their own lives within its pages, and discover that even in life's hardest seasons, God is still present and still writing a story of hope. Hearing my friend describe her experience reminded me that books are sometimes more than stories. They can become companions for the journey, inviting readers to reflect not only on fictional characters but also on the ways God has been at work in their own lives. As she spoke, I silently thanked God, not because someone complimented my writing, but because He allowed a story He placed on my heart to become part of someone else's.

Then today, another unexpected gift arrived. Out of nowhere, my aunt sent me a simple text message that read, "I just want to tell you how proud I am of you and how much I love you." There wasn't a birthday or a milestone that prompted it. She simply wanted me to know. I found myself reading those words more than once because it's amazing how a sentence that takes only a few seconds to type can remain in your heart for the rest of the day.

There was one more unexpected blessing this week. Yesterday, I texted a dear friend because I had an extra ticket to a concert this weekend. She lives out of state, so I sent the invitation hoping she might be able to come, but honestly, I didn't expect it to work out since it was last minute. It felt like one of those invitations you extend because it would be wonderful if it happened, while quietly assuming life would make it impossible.

Instead, she talked with her husband, booked a flight, and decided to come.

The more I've thought about it, the more I believe this weekend is about much more than a concert. I think it may be exactly what the two of us need. Life has a way of filling our calendars while quietly emptying our hearts. We spend so much time caring for others, meeting responsibilities, and answering the next demand that we sometimes forget how deeply we need authentic friendship. We need people who know us well enough that we don't have to explain ourselves, people who can make us laugh, sit comfortably in silence, and remind us that we don't have to carry life's burdens alone. I have a feeling this weekend will be one of those gifts that refreshes both of our souls.

As I've reflected on these three moments, I've realized they all carry the same message. My friend's words reminded me that God can use our gifts in ways we never fully see. My aunt's text reminded me that I am loved, not because of what I accomplish, but simply because I belong to a family that cares deeply for me. My friend's decision to board a plane reminded me that relationships are worth making time for and that sometimes God provides exactly what we need before we even realize we need it.

When I look at these moments individually, they seem small. A lunch conversation. A text message. A last-minute plane ticket. Yet together they feel like God's gentle whispers saying, "I see you. Keep going. You are loved. You don't have to do this alone."

How often do we pray for God to speak while expecting something dramatic, when all along He is speaking through the people He has placed in our lives? His encouragement often comes through a friend's honesty, a relative's kindness, or someone's willingness to show up. We just have to slow down long enough to recognize those moments for what they are.

This week reminded me that encouragement is never wasted. A heartfelt conversation, an unexpected text, or a simple invitation can become part of God's answer to someone's prayer. We rarely know what another person is carrying or how desperately they need to hear that they matter. So tell someone you're proud of them. Tell them you love them. Encourage them in the work God has been doing through their lives. Invite them to spend time together. Those small acts of kindness may seem ordinary to us, but in God's hands they often become extraordinary reminders that we are deeply seen, fully known, and abundantly loved.