Samantha was exhausted. Every part of her day felt like a never-ending cycle of chaos – keeping up with work, kids’ school projects, bills stacking up, etc. This was on top of an emotional void that had been creeping in for years. She’d always thought of herself as a person of faith, but recently she just felt like it was a chore. She went to church out of habit but her heart felt numb.
It was one rainy afternoon when her youngest, eight-year-old Lucy, burst through the door holding a small piece of paper with excitement shining in her eyes.
“Mom! Look what I made today!” Lucy held up a colorful craft with carefully written letters.
Samantha barely looked up from her paperwork. “That’s nice, sweetheart. Go put it with your other projects.”
“But mom, I made it specially for you. Do you think it will work?“
“Of course it will sweetie, thank you for the gift!” Samantha said in an attempt to placate Lucy. She received the gift and took a quick glance before placing it neatly with a pile of arts and crafts that Lucy had accumulated.
Several days passed and the gift sat there untouched. Lucy was being a little difficult that morning and was refusing to eat the breakfast the Samantha had prepared. Something snapped inside her and she scolded Lucy angrily.
With tears in her eyes, Lucy cried out, “Why doesn’t God ever listen to me? I don’t want to go to school anymore!”
Slightly confused now, Samantha was about to ask Lucy what she meant but the little girl had already ran up to her room in protest.
As Samantha attempted to go after her, she noticed the colorful gift that Lucy had made several days ago had fell to the floor. On it where the words written “My Prayer to God“.
The words caught Samantha’s attention. She paused and looked closer at the small, crinkled paper. Written in neat, uneven handwriting were the words:
“Dear God, I will do anything you ask if you please help my mom smile again. Amen.”
Samantha’s breath caught in her throat. She felt tears welling up, not from sadness but from something much deeper as she sat there quietly sobbing for several minutes.
“Mommy, I’m sorry for making you cry” Lucy said quietly as she stood at the bottom of the stairs having now come down from her room. Samantha pulled Lucy into her arms, holding her tightly. In that moment, something shifted inside her—a release of the heaviness that had been weighing her down.
“It’s okay sweetheart. And thank you for this gift. You know, this is exactly what I needed.”
Lucy shrugged, her little face serious. “I just asked God to help you. That’s what you always tell me to do when I feel sad.”
“Yes, my sweet girl. I promise I will smile more in the future okay.”
That night after tucking Lucy into bed, Samantha sat quietly in the living room. For the first time in what felt like forever, she forgot about her duties and finally let herself pray – with gratitude & unbridled honesty, for she had finally been reminded of the things that truly mattered to her in life.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
– Matthew 25:40
Beloved one, have you sometimes experienced life moving at breakneck speed and pulling you in multiple directions that you can’t seem to keep up? Work, family, bills, responsibilities, and the lingering feeling that we’re never quite enough… As Christians, we know that faith is meant to sustain us in these moments of chaos. Yet even the strongest believer can find themselves feeling distant from God, trapped in the mechanics of everyday life and numbed by the routine.
Samantha’s story speaks to this struggle that many of us experience, and reminds us of the danger of losing sight of God’s presence amidst our busy lives. Her experience serves as a gentle reminder of God’s loving presence, often revealed to us in the smallest, most unexpected ways.
Beware of Spiritual Numbness
Samantha’s exhaustion is something we can all relate to. She was worn down, caught in the repetitive grind of her daily life, and her spiritual connection with God felt distant. This spiritual numbness crept in unnoticed, replacing her once-vibrant connection with God with a sense of emptiness. How many of us have found ourselves in that same place, going through the motions without truly feeling connected to the divine?
The answer to countering this is to lead with love every day. Samantha didn’t realize how much she needed to reconnect with God until her daughter’s simple prayer opened her heart again. Sometimes in our pursuit of discharging our duties, we forget all about why we are even doing it in the first place. Always remember that no duty is as important as the people that we love.
Begin with a simple prayer of gratitude each day – just spend 5 minutes in the morning thanking God for everything in your life and you will see the profound impact this positive injection will have manifested in your life.
God’s Presence in the Small Things
The innocence and sincerity of Lucy’s prayer for her mother was a profound moment of grace. Her simple, heartfelt plea to God—“Please help my mom smile again”—carried more weight than Samantha could have imagined. It wasn’t a grand miracle that changed Samantha’s life, but rather the honest prayer of a child, a gift of love that brought her back to the presence of God.
This moment reflects a powerful truth found in 1 Kings 19:12, where the prophet Elijah encounters God, not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a “gentle whisper.”
Samantha’s story is a beautiful reminder that God’s presence is always with us, even when we feel distant or numb. He often speaks to us in the quiet moments, through the small acts of love and faith that surround us. Like Samantha, we can become so wrapped up in the demands of life that we lose sight of our need for God. But through prayer, gratitude and leading with love, we can reconnect with His love and plan for our lives.
As we reflect on this story, let us remember to nurture a childlike faith trusting that God hears our prayers and is working all things for our good. Let us take time to pause, to be still, and to listen for God’s voice in the quiet moments of our lives. And let us remain open to His grace, knowing that He is always ready to guide us back to Him, even in the midst of our busiest days.
Short Prayer of Gratitude:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You are present in every moment of our lives, even when we feel far from You.
Help us to slow down, to be still, and to listen for Your voice in the quiet.
Give us the childlike faith to trust in Your plan, even when life feels overwhelming.
Guide us back to You, Lord, and help us to remember that Your love is the anchor that holds us steady through every storm.
Thank You for Your constant presence, even in the moments when I feel distant and overwhelmed.
Thank you for the wonderful gift of life that I am about to experience this day.
I praise your holy name for all the my loved ones and the joy that they bring to me.
Thank You for the gentle reminders of Your love, shown through the kindness of others
and the small, quiet moments that draw me back to You.
Help me to remain open to Your grace and to cherish the blessings You provide daily.
I am grateful for the strength You give me to carry on, and for the love that sustains me.
(Add 5 things that you are grateful for today)
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. 🙏
