I love God’s nature. I love to admire the beauty He has placed all around us, and I marvel at how that beauty changes as the seasons change. It’s like God knows that if things always stayed the same, we might start becoming complacent to His Creation!

One prime example of God’s ingenuity in keeping us “on the edge of our seats” so to speak is the season that we find ourselves in right now in North America: Autumn!

I love this season because of how God brings such beauty into the change. One example of God’s creation really caught my attention this year. I’m not really sure why I didn’t notice it in past years, because this particular illustration of God’s creative genius was very hard not to notice! It covered the sidewalk, the grass and the streets under every single one of the abundant locust trees in the neighbourhood. The tiny fallen locust leaves made the ground literally look like it was paved in gold!

It makes us remember a vital Truth from the book of James: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

I believe that this is but a prime example of something very important. God’s blessings are all around us, all the time! Our problem is that, just as I never noticed the “streets of gold” in past autumn seasons, we simply don’t see God’s blessings. We may be distracted by our circumstances, or we may simply not be looking. The truth is, however, every good gift is from God: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV). We may simply not recognize them! When our eyes are opened, however, we will see that God has indeed surrounded us with “gold”!

What problems are you in the midst of? Ask God to open your eyes to the blessings He has placed in your path! Recognize His hand of comfort and mercy and grace in and around you, and take comfort in the fact that the God who would take time from His busy schedule to orchestrate those little blessings in your time of trouble is big enough to to carry you through!

Prayer: God, You have given us so much beauty. We pray that You will open our eyes to Your good and perfect gifts! May we recognize Your master hand in and around us … ALL the time! But especially in times of trials. May we see these gifts as assurances that You are carrying us through!

I love my Heavenly Father. Wow!

In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Director, Answer2prayer Ministries