The Evidence of a Blessing

The Evidence of a Blessing

Scripture:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." — Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

The stain on the carpet.
The dent in the drywall.
The cup left in the sink.
The socks that never made it to the laundry basket.
The voicemail from a parent that says the same thing they said yesterday.
The text message from a friend who always seems to need more than they give.
The long line at the store.
The job that demands too much.
The scar that still aches.

What do you see?

Frustration? Inconvenience? A burden?

Or… could it be the evidence of a blessing too big to put into words?

We often live from perception—our immediate, emotional interpretation of what’s in front of us. And perception can be shortsighted. It tells us we’re overwhelmed, annoyed, disappointed, underappreciated. But perspective pulls back the lens. It lets us see the bigger picture. It invites us to ask, “What does this really mean? What might God be showing me here?”

Perception says, “This is a mess.”
Perspective says, “This is a life that’s still being lived.”
Perception says, “I’m tired of repeating myself.”
Perspective says, “I’m still needed. I still have time.”
Perception says, “They’re always leaving things undone.”
Perspective says, “They’re still here. I haven’t lost them.”

We so easily focus on what’s missing, ruined, or imperfect. But that stained shirt, that chipped coffee mug, that unread book collecting dust on the shelf—those aren’t just things. They’re markers of moments, lives, and love.

The shirt your child painted in art class that now has a black streak across the front? That’s not ruined. That’s a story. That’s laughter. That’s presence.
The dent in the car door that drives you crazy? That’s the memory of a late-night trip to pick up someone you love.
The dishes piled in the sink? A sign someone ate. Someone came home. Someone still gathers around your table.
The slow-moving parent who needs your help to walk? That’s holy ground. That’s the long echo of years where they cared for you—and now, you get to return the gift.

Gratitude begins when we choose to trade in perception for perspective—when we stop reacting and start seeing. Seeing not just what’s in front of us, but the why behind it.

The Blessings That Come Home

We spend a lot of time mourning what doesn’t make it home—lost items, missed opportunities, or relationships that drifted away. But what about the blessings that do come home?

The child who returns from school, arms full of messy crafts and stories to tell.
The spouse who walks through the door at the end of a long day, still choosing to come back to you.
The friend who keeps calling, even when you haven’t had time to return their last message.
The family dinner where not everyone likes the food, but everyone still shows up.
The dog that sheds on the couch—but is always there waiting when you get back.
The car that has its quirks but still gets you safely home.
The job you complain about—but that keeps providing.
The prayers God answered—so quietly you forgot you had even asked.

We take these things for granted because they feel routine. But routine is a privilege. Return is a gift.

Every time someone walks back into your life, every time you hear a familiar voice in the room, every time you have “just another day,” that is grace showing up again.

We pray for miracles, and they walk through our front door wearing backpacks and scrubs and work boots and tired smiles. They show up in conversations around the dinner table and the creak of the floorboards at night.

Don't miss these moments because they look like yesterday. They are blessings that didn’t have to return—but they did.

So Reach for Perspective

When your teenager rolls their eyes again—reach for perspective.
When your spouse forgets the one thing you reminded them about—reach for perspective.
When your parent’s voice shakes as they ask for help—reach for perspective.
When your body aches—reach for perspective.
When the silence is deafening—reach for perspective, and realize it’s proof that once, this place was filled with sound.

Let’s stop waiting for life to be perfect before we’re thankful. Let’s start thanking God for what is, while it still is.

Gratitude doesn't need perfection. It just needs awareness.

The truth is, we’re surrounded by miracles. But miracles lose their glow when we stop noticing them.

Today is a gift. This moment—whatever it looks like—is a gift.
Don’t miss it. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t wait until it’s a memory to wish you had cherished it more.

Reflection Questions:

1.   Where am I living from perception instead of perspective?

2.   What “inconveniences” in my life are actually signs of God's provision and love?

3.   How can I practice gratitude in the middle of the mess instead of after it’s been cleaned up?

Prayer:

God, We’ve spent too much time focused on what’s wrong, what’s missing, what’s broken. we’ve let our perception shape our emotions instead of inviting Your perspective to shape our heart. Help us to pause long enough to see the beauty in what I usually overlook. Open our eyes to the blessings right in front of us—the ones we didn’t ask for, but desperately need. And teach us to live with a spirit of thankfulness, not just when life is easy, but especially when it’s hard. Thank You for the messes that prove there’s still life here. Thank You for the noise that means we’re not alone. Thank You for the blessings we didn’t see—until now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.