When is the last time you experienced God’s kindness? Scripture is clear about the lavish kindness of God but many of us are too busy to consider God’s kindness in our lives.
6 Places to Start Seeing God’s Kindness in Daily Life
The two-year-old dropped her lollipop at Costco.
As it hit the floor, I winced, anticipating her reaction to this mama throwing her treat away. She was already having a tough morning. In fact, the lollipop was the backup, backup plan.
Plan A and B failed. There were no more plans.
With a sigh, I prayed, ‘Lord, send help’’ and prepared to finish the trip to the familiar tune of ear-piercing screams.
I don’t know about you, but when I can’t calm my child down in public, the urge to get out now washes over me. It officially does not help to get flustered and frustrated, but that’s what usually happens. So I cut our losses by ignoring items on my list and paying for what is already in our cart.
If we want to see God's kindness in daily life, we need to as for His help. #God #kindness Click To TweetIf we want to see God’s kindness in our daily life, we need to ask for His help. When circumstances are overwhelming, painful, frustrating, or difficult, even a short whispered prayer like “Lord, send help” can open our eyes to what God is going to do next. Whether He sends a person, comfort, hope or peace, we can expect Him to answer our prayers. That is exactly what God did for me on this dropped lollipop day.
Interactions with Others
As anticipated tears and cries of protest ensued, ramping up as if she might explode, another Mom wheeled by with a girl of similar age. People generally avoid eye contact with the mom wrestling a screaming toddler. Not this mom; she paused, catching me off guard by locking eyes and flashing a giant smile.
Reaching into her purse, she asked,
Can she have another? This morning they gave me a handful at Trader Joe’s when MY daughter was screaming’.
I was suddenly mute. At my surprised nod, she handed my daughter a lollipop. I thanked her profusely as we parted.
A stranger’s kindness stopped my child’s tears and left me choking back my own.
Perhaps this mom felt God’s prompt. Maybe she had no idea she was answering my prayer for help with her simple, yet profound gesture. Regardless, through one stranger’s simple act of kindness, I felt the certain kindness of God.
God heard me.
He sees me.
God responds because he cares about the littlest problems.
And there, right in the middle of real life, God showed my us His presence. We’re taught not to take candy from strangers. However, a stranger’s gift of candy can be a gift from God.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a stranger. More likely, God will send a neighbor, friend, or loved one in your time of need. They will comfort, encourage, show up and extend God’s kindness, whether they know they are doing so or not.
WHO has God sent to you?
In The Margin
I felt convicted after experiencing God’s kindness through a stranger; I’m often too busy to notice God’s kindness.
Are you?
We need margin built into our lives in order to pause and consider God’s kindness. Life is busy! We juggle many roles. Whether it’s a paid job or volunteer position, significant demands on our time and energy exist outside the home. Further more, at home, we’re wives, mothers, friends and daughters. There are husbands to love, meals to prepare, and children to shepherd.
If we want to recognize God’s kindness in our daily life, we need to slow down enough to see it.
In the age of instant-gratification, we are much better at filling up our time than sitting still. Many of us have forgotten how to just sit and think. Instead, we pull out our devices.
Can we admit many of us ‘give’ away our thinking time without even realizing it? We surrender margin to Social Media, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube. These aren’t bad things. In fact, as a blogger, I use these platforms to share with all of you. However, most of us could benefit from putting the phone down a lot more.
Maybe you already have margin in your life. If so, share where you carve out time in the comments! For the rest of us, we need to figure out where our time goes and create a plan.
Where are we wasting time? What are we doing in the carpool line? Instead of surfing Facebook from the doctors office or couch, purposefully put the phone down. Turn off the radio and TV. It’s ok to start small!
Take 5 minutes back and recount what happened and who you’ve encountered. Look for God’s fingerprints all over your life.
God is working. Are we too busy to see it?
God’s Word
Regular time in God’s Word reveals God’s character and what He can and will do. As we consider who God is and what He promises, it’s hard not to recognize the kindness of God.
The Bible tells us God’s lovingkindness is great.
For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 117:2 (ESV)
If we’re honest, we deserve no kindness from God. We sin against Him regularly, and struggle to trust Him. Yet, God chooses to show us grace, mercy, and love. His kindness towards us is immeasurably great. The culmination of God’s loving kindness is shown in lavishness of grace: His son, sacrificed on our behalf, so we could know God as our Father.
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:7 (ESV)
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Titus 3:4-6 (ESV)
Simple Pleasures
God is sovereign and unbound by time. He carefully created each of us and knows us intimately. Have you ever considered what God may have created with you in mind?
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
Nothing God does is without intention and purpose. It is not beyond His capability to design specific things in creation just for each of us.
I love to see my children delighted. It’s why I spend time making their favorite meal or treat. We are God’s children. How much more must He create for us?
Take the cup of coffee I’m drinking right now. Call me crazy, but I am convinced God created coffee with me in mind. And yes, perhaps with you and millions of others in mind too. God knew how much I’d enjoy a hot cup of coffee cradled between my hands the day begins. I believe this is true about all of the good things we enjoy. God created countless varieties of food and beverages with sweet, sour, bitter, savory and every combination of flavors under the sun. Why create so much variety if He didn’t intend to create beloved people to enjoy each of them?
Look around. Do you love nature? The variety of color in plants and animals is limitless. For a God who knows all of His creation, it’s not unreasonable to assume He knew exactly who would enjoy each thing He created. That includes you and me.
As you encounter simple pleasures in your day, consider the God who created you, and be reminded of His personal kindness towards you.
He delights in you!
Prayer
When we ask God to reveal Himself, we can expect Him to show up. We can ask God to open our eyes to see His kindness and wait with expectant hope. Can we begin together?
When we ask God to reveal Himself, we can expect Him to show up. #prayer #kindness #faith Click To TweetLord, your Word tells us that you are a loving and kind God. Thank you for all of the ways you show us kindness, including all the kindness we miss. Forgive us for being too busy or distracted to see your work in our lives. Open our eyes to see how you are working and to recognize the grace and mercy you extend towards us every day, and every moment. As I recognize your kindness, show me people I can tell the ways you are working in my life. And give me opportunities to extend kindness to others, as you have first showed kindness to me.
Personal Stories
One great way to begin recognizing God’s kindness is to share our story with others. The habit of sharing God’s kindness doesn’t develop on it’s own. But as we share what God is doing with others, it will begin conversations. Those conversations glorify God and open our eyes to other ways God has been kind in our lives, and in the lives of those we are talking to.
We don’t have to wait to share our story. Let’s fill the comments with stories of God’s lovingkindness. Tell us!
Who has God used to show kindness to you? #kindness #faith #allaboutyou Click To TweetWho has God used to show kindness to you?
What step can you take to slow down and create margin to reflect on the day and recognize God’s kindness during daily life?
How has God shown kindness to you today? This week? Big or small?
What simple pleasure did God create with you in mind?
Additional Resources
Kindness Changes Everything, Desiring God
What Does Kindness Look Like? Christianity Today
Definition of Kindness, Bible Study Tools
All I have to do is go outside, sit down on my front porch and look around. There is proof in everything I see and hear he lives and knows I am a Daughter of God.
Yes and Amen!
I agree with what you have to say here when it comes to seeing His kindness in daily life, especially the fact that we need to ‘slow down’, be still, and we will see His kindness.
Thank you Terry. Slowing down takes purposeful practice but it gives us room to see!
Excellent post and it reminded me to make sure I don’t get so busy that I miss the little acts of kindness I experience throughout my day!!
Being busy is my greatest distraction. But God knows that too and we can ask Him to help us have eyes to see His work!
wow, i really love your perspective. sometimes it doesn’t take a big miracles to see everything thats really there
You’re right! If we just see big stuff, we miss so much God is doing!
That other mama is such a gem! I’ve had several ‘angels-on-earth’ minister to me in similar situations. They are always such blessings from Heavenly Father!
She really was. It’s so sweet when God uses others, whether we know them or not, to show us He is listening! God is so personal.
This is so great! It’s easy to see all the horrible things in the world we get clouded to see the light. God’s kindness is there, thanks for showing us where to look.
You’re right. It’s so easy to get bogged down with everything else and miss God’s work!
I love this!! I am intentionally slowing down so I can see and respond to God’s kindness to me everyday. ❤
Intentionality is the only way most days to see it! Thank you Donna!
Love this post because I can see that you do see all the small things God is doing in the mist of it all, that is one thing that is easily missed. Like you mentioned, When we ask for His help, we should expect Him to show up. I absolutely agree!
Thank you Carmen!
So good! I recently stumbled across a saying “Coincidences are God’s little miracles where He prefers to stay anonymous.” Your lollipop story is such a good illustration to that. But the think is, if we stay close to God and keep our prayer (aka conversation) with Him open every minute of our lives, we will recognize in all those coincidences the hand of our loving God.
I’ve neber heard that saying but I do agree! I don’t believe in coincidence and when I find myself thinking that something was coincidence, it reminds me to seek God and look for what Ge is doing. Thanks for your insight!
I love the story you shared and the reminder to be kind to others as well. God gave us the ultimate kindness that we didn’t deserve, and we need to pass it on! I completely agree that we give our margin times to things we don’t truly value and to be more intentional with our thoughts and words. Thanks so much for sharing this encouragement!
Thank you, Laura, for taking time to read and share your thoughts. You’ve encouraged me as well!
Take 5 minutes back and recount what happened and who you’ve encountered. Look for God’s fingerprints all over your life.
God is working. Are we too busy to see it?
This post, this reminder, I am stopping and taking 5 right now and your words are 1st on the list.
I’m so glad these words helped you stop right now. Praying God honors your desire to see Him and reveals new ways He is working in your life!
Too right, it is easy for me to forget to slow down and smell the roses, or even pray to or thank God.
Thank you
I try to spend time alone with God every day, usually in the morning.
I loved your post. I am not a terribly observant person, so I have to truly take time to focus on those around me. But I think it’s important to do so because how else will I know how to help someone? My task-oriented mentality wants to hurry and get the shopping done, hurry and finish the errand, hurry and finish walking the dog, etc. But when I slow down and “see” people, I realize that a smile can bring a smile to someone else’s face; a kind word will cause them to stand a little straighter; and a kind deed can bring a tear to the eye. I need to purpose to do that more often. Thanks for your post.
Anneliese, the desire to hurry is so relatable! I often find myself rushing through my to-do list because we live in a culture where productivity is praised and celebrated. So of course, I want to do MORE and FAST. You’re right that slowing down is worth it and I am with you in needing to purposefully focus on doing so. Thank you for your thoughts!
SUCH a needed reminder! I’m in a place right now of trying to figure out what to take out of my margins. I love that you said we need to ask for help. It’s such a simple yet humbling process. Loved this!
I agree it is a simple yet is a humbling process. Great point. I think any time we surrender our time to God, it requires humility. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts here and your perspective! Praying God clearly shows you how He desires your time to be spent.
Enjoyed reading this one again! I loved the reminder that when we ask God to reveal Himself, we can expect Him to show up. I was in prayer about that this morning, so it was great to have the assurance of your words here. 🙂
Love when God reaffirms truth through other sources! He has done this to me through your writing as well, more than once! Thank you for your encouragement and thoughts.
Loved the idea of prayer for God to open my eyes to the needs of others. Something I need to put into practice. Thanks
I’m right there with you. A prayer I need to make a regular part of my time with God. Thank you!
Dear Elaine!
Thank you for sharing.
I was encouraged by your personal story that you shared in this blog post.
I think you are right, often I’m too busy to see that God is working!
Blessings!
Edna Davidsen
Dear Elaine, this was the perfect example of just one of the little ways God loves us all day long, if we can only see. Some days I have a heightened awareness of God’s provisions, from the air I breathe, to the movement in my hands and feet, to the floor beneath my feet and on and on and on. I pray that I will be more aware on a daily basis. I believe if I am noticing God’s gentle kindnesses, I will be more alert to pass along a small kindness to another person. Thank you for sharing your story and your helpful suggestions. Slowing down is a must. I have also tried to keep a thankfulness notebook that helps me reflect on God’s goodness during the week. Nothing fancy, just bullet points, to help me remember the details of God’s goodness over the years in my life. God bless you!
Great post and a timely reminder. I’ve been intentional about creating margin of time in my life for thinking, processing and spending time with God. It’s definitely something I want to take into the New Year!
Loved this! Thank you for sharing:)
My dog walking time is often my thinking time. It’s a blessing to go up the hill and watch the seasons pass, to hear the train whistles in town, and occasionally interact with a neighbor. But it’s the thinking time that’s best.
It’s so good to have a built-in time to think, listen and linger on what God is showing you. I don’t have a dog but love to walk for this reason too.
Guilty! I’m so guilty of not slowing down enough to recognize God’s kindness, Elaine. Love the story of the stranger having extra lollipops. And isn’t that so much like our good, good Father? He carries extra kindness in the palm of His hand. Willing to give it to us at the right time…when we need kindness the most. Or use us to dispense it to others.
I started several years ago asking the Lord for divine appointments as I went about my day and as I went about town doing routine errands. Whether I was the seeking soul who needed a divine act of kindness or someone needed it from me, I prayed to be open to it. That simple prayer has changed my life.
Such a wonderful post! Thank you!
I’m right there with you Karen, the world is always pushing us to be busy, and it’s hard to pause and take notice! I love this idea of asking God for divine appointments. Surely, this kind of intentional prayer honors God and He loves to answer it! I’m going to try this and sit back and wait for God to show up, thank you for sharing this with us here!
I love your idea of setting wider margins to be available to receive God’s gentle kindness, to pass along a kindness or to allow time for a call for help. Wonderful post!
Thank you, Melissa. Margins are one of my greatest challenges, but when I do allow for time to respond to and recognize God’s kindness, it changes my attitude, heart and offers such joy and comfort!
Blessings from God are all around us. We need to pause and become aware of His messages. 🙂
I love this story! God is “a God who sees”… that is SO true! This story exemplifies that. And yes, we could all do better by tapping into His Spirit everywhere we go, not ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit to reach out and be the hands and feet of Christ, as His Body of believers. If more of us did this, imagine how the world might view Christians differently! Let’s try to do this more often, for sure. Bless you.
The truth of God seeing us is a game-changer! When we recognize God is already looking at us, already working in our situation, and listening, ready to respond to our prayers, we sure do turn to Him quicker, and for big and small things. I agree, it would certainly change the way the world views us, and would change our view of God as we experience His presence more throughout our days. Thank you Lisa!
My favorite part of the day is early in the morning. The house is quiet. I have my cup of coffee in hand and I sit and think. I don’t start reading my Bible immediately; I just sit and think. This time gives me the space to hear God and to think about my life, where I’ve been, what I’m doing, and where I’m going. Where this gets tricky is when I don’t have this time; I’m in a hurry to get somewhere early. While I do try to guard it, it can be hard some days. I love this post, you give some great next steps to practice. Thank you!
Morning is my favorite time of the day too, however it often gets interrupted by little people. I’m learning how to hold this time loosely, and yet still protect it too. It’s a balancing act, and requires me to rely on God for my response to interruption too. I love the idea of just sitting in the quiet and thinking as a regular part of the morning. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Marcie!