Guests were soon arriving at the ranch. I had pulled weeds, mowed grass, and done everything I could to prepare. But one unfinished project kept staring me in the face.
The pond that normally added beauty and serenity to the yard was nothing more than a hole in the ground. Thousands of leaves from last fall's raking had settled into the bottom, blocking the flow of water. Until the leaves were removed, the pond would remain empty.
I finally reached the point where I surrendered it to God. I had simply run out of time. Whether the pond was finished or not, my friends and I would still enjoy a wonderful visit together.
The next morning, I received a text from my son. "Mom, I contacted Jason to come rake up your leaves out of the pond."
Coincidence? Perhaps. Or maybe it was one of those sweet reminders that God hears even the desires we barely whisper.
Long story short, the leaves were removed, the water began to flow, and the pond was soon filled. One moment it was a desire tucked away in my heart; the next, it was accomplished.
Psalm 37:4 tells us: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
This promise comes with a beautiful invitation—to make God our greatest source of joy and satisfaction. As we draw closer to Him, our hearts begin to align with His, and we discover that He faithfully provides exactly what we need.
The people we spend the most time with are usually the people we know best. The same is true with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more we learn to trust Him. Even in seasons of crisis, uncertainty, or disappointment, we can choose joy by:
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Surrendering our burdens. Not giving up in defeat, but giving our worries and cares to God. Leave them at the foot of the cross and trust Him with the outcome.
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Praying. Seek His guidance. Ask Him for wisdom, strength, and joy in the middle of the chaos.
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Worshiping. Lift your voice in praise regardless of your circumstances. Sometimes worship changes our perspective long before it changes our situation.
This week, my worship came through a song by Matt Maher. As I looked at that empty hole in the ground, I sang at the top of my lungs, Gonna Be Alright.
The words reminded me that God's presence is greater than any problem standing before me. "I lift my eyes, I know, everything's gonna be alright. So why should I worry? Not a thing that I lack. You're with me. That's a fact."
Perhaps you have a "hole in the ground" somewhere in your life right now—a prayer unanswered, a dream delayed, or a situation that seems impossible to fix. Maybe, like me, you've done all you know to do and still see no water flowing. Don't lose heart.
Sometimes God waits until we loosen our grip before He reveals His provision. Sometimes the leaves must be cleared away before the blessing can flow.
Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep worshiping.
And when all you can see is an empty hole, lift your eyes to the One who fills empty places better than you ever imagined.
Closing Prayer Father, thank You for caring about both the great needs and the small desires of our hearts. Teach us to delight ourselves in You above all else. Help us surrender our worries, trust Your timing, and worship You even when we cannot see the answer. Fill every empty place in our lives with Your peace, Your presence, and Your perfect provision. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.