God Moments
One of the greatest gifts of owning my photography business in Central Illinois is getting to witness Christ’s goodness and love firsthand. I get to use the talents He’s given me to minister to others, and that thought still gives me chills every time. As I was driving home yesterday, I was thinking about what to write for this week’s blog, and Leanna Crawford’s song “How Can You Not” came on. I’m not sure if it was the first time I’d heard it, but it was the first time it really spoke to me. It felt like a "God moment."
Leanna’s song is all about noticing the beauty in the world around us. When we stop and take it all in, how could we deny that God is everywhere? Life isn't always pretty, sometimes it's painful, but there’s still something in the whisper of the wind, a friend’s hug, or the reminder of a sunrise that points to who holds the world and our hearts.
“I see His goodness when I fall down, and His grace that picks me up.”
The truth in those lyrics is so powerful. We will fall, and the world will break us. But the same God who created the universe created your story. The same God who is with us in the highs of life is the same God in the valleys. He’s present in every moment, even when we don’t always feel it.
There have been times in my life when I felt low, when I couldn’t sense God’s presence. But I know now that He was there, showing up in ways I didn’t always recognize. When we focus on negativity, we can miss how God is moving in our lives.
For you, maybe it’s looking at the clouds while driving, seeing how vast and beautiful the world is. Or it might be the tiny fingers of your child wrapped around yours. Maybe it’s Christ offering glimpses of peace in the darkest moments of your life.
One example that keeps playing in my mind as I write this is the loss of my grandpa. He was my hero, the kind of man people refer to as "one of the good ones."
I’ll never forget sitting in that hospital room, overhearing the doctors tell my family, “It’s cancer.” I looked at my cousin, and we both froze. The man we thought was invincible had cancer. After the news sank in, we went back to my grandpa’s room, and I’ll always remember his words to me: “We are giving this to God because He has this.” It still brings tears to my eyes. In that moment, God showed up in one of the smallest, but biggest ways I needed.
I thought for sure a miracle would come in the form of my grandpa being healed. But just months later, we received a phone call past midnight saying he’d passed away. I remember feeling numb, thinking, “What now?” I didn’t know how life would go on without him.
I had always been the type to hide my emotions, so I buried my fear and guilt—especially for not saying "I love you" the night before I left. For years, I carried that without anyone knowing.
To this day, memories of my grandpa flood my mind from riding bikes up and down his sidewalk, country music playing in his truck, to all the grandkids staying up late spending the night at their house. Those memories are God’s way of bringing healing, especially when I need them most. They are God reminding me of the blessings upon blessings He's bestowed on my life since the day I was born. They don't take away the pain of him not being here, but they provide the peace and comfort only Christ can give.
I still have moments when I look at my kids and wish my grandpa could be here to meet them. I sometimes picture him walking through the door at holidays and birthdays, and it's disappointing knowing that won't happen again on this Earth. I wish he could watch their passions and games like he did for me, because he would beam with pride for them. It hurts that he’s not here. But it's also in those moments, I see him in my kids. I see his love and through through their smile and the twinkle of their eyes. I see his legacy being carried on for generations. How could I not see God when Christ has blessed me with two beautiful children who reflect the same love and joy my grandpa shared.
“How could I question His love when its's everywhere I go”
God is good. He's good through the darkness and through the pain; He is always good. Look for His gentle reminders this week. Pray for your eyes to be open to the beauty around you. Then, I think you’ll also find yourself saying, “How can you not see God, in every little thing, in every little moment? How can you not feel loved?” Because His presence is everywhere.
The legacy left and the daily proof of the God working in every moment:
