God Has Been Leading You

Some blessings are easy to miss until you stop and look.

In Deuteronomy, the Lord reminded the children of Israel of something they may not have fully noticed:

“Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.”

Later He said:

“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.”

That is an interesting blessing.

The Lord did not only remind them about the huge miracles. He reminded them about clothes that lasted and shoes that did not wear out.

That may seem small compared to the Red Sea or manna from heaven. But maybe that is the point.

Sometimes God’s blessings are obvious.

Other times they are quiet.

Sometimes He opens a sea. Other times He simply helps your shoes last longer than expected. Sometimes He gives a dramatic answer. Other times He gives strength for one more day. Sometimes He changes the situation. Other times He helps you keep going through it.

The children of Israel may have missed some of those blessings because they were focused on what was hard, what was uncomfortable, or what they still did not have.

We can do the same thing.

We may notice what is missing before we notice what God is providing. We may focus on the prayer that has not been answered yet and miss the ways He is sustaining us right now.

President Henry B. Eyring shared how he learned to recognize God’s hand more clearly:

“I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’”

Then he said:

“As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day.”

That is the key.

Sometimes we do not see God’s hand because He is not there.

Sometimes we do not see it because we have not stopped long enough to notice.

God may already be blessing you in ways you have overlooked. He may be helping your family. Strengthening your faith. Protecting you from things you never saw. Giving you people who care. Helping you recover. Giving you courage. Giving you another chance.

The more you recognize His hand, the easier it becomes to remember His love.

Reflection

What is one blessing in your life that you may have overlooked or taken for granted?

Today’s Challenge

Tonight, write down one way you saw God’s hand today. It can be big or small. Try doing it for a few days and notice what changes in how you see your life.

Closing Thought

God was leading Israel even when they did not recognize every blessing.

He is leading you too.

Sometimes faith grows when you pause long enough to say, “Now that I think about it, the Lord really has been helping me.”

Learn more Come Follow Me for Teens resources:
https://www.joshdowns.com/come-follow-me-for-teens

Listen to more devotionals and faith-based encouragement:
https://www.joshdowns.com/daily-devotionals