Why is it that we dismiss the small things of life sometimes? I almost missed this one…this small request by my tiny daughter…

After having spent the night at Grammy and Papa’s, as I was driving home with Emeria and Austin, Emeria couldn’t stop talking about all the fun things they had done with their grandparents.  At the top of the list were the homemade juice pops that she and Grammy made.  “And Mommy, we put the juice in the holder and Grammy put it in the freezer and then I had to wait a LONG time.  But then, Mommy, the popsicles were frozen! They were so yummy, Mommy. Can we buy those popsicle makers?”

Such a cute conversation, right? Such an easy question, right? Who wouldn’t just run down to Walmart and buy the Popsicle molds for their sweet little girl? This mom right here.  I couldn’t.  Unless Walmart had changed their exchange policy and traded goods for looks or jokes, any purchase was out of the question.

Times were hard. Seemingly impossible really. As a tired, spent, mom, this simple request broke my heart.  How could I say no?

“Well, Emeria, let’s ask Jesus for the popsicle makers.”  I said this, really…honestly, just to get her to stop talking…so I wouldn’t feel so guilty.  Perhaps even to pass responsibility to Jesus.  It was a low point for me.

As usual, Emeria prayed, without hesitation, with her innocent faith totally believing that the Lord of heaven would somehow deliver her special popsicle makers.

Life goes on.  Cooking, changing diapers, doing laundry…distractions come. Needs are met.  Motions are made.  When life is hard, we can lose hope.  I can so often look to my circumstances to define how God loves me.  If life is easy, He must love me a lot today. But my life wasn’t easy, so maybe He didn’t love me much today…

Do you ever feel like that? That the Lord who is supposed to love you isn’t doing a very good job? That perhaps He sees the needs of others, but not yours?  That your cries are just bouncing off an empty sky returning to mock you?

Oh sweet friend, I have been there, but please listen…He sees YOU.  He hears YOU. He LOVES YOU!

Our faith is precious to him. Jesus will go to great lengths to grow our faith.  Faith is so important to Him.  Taking Him at His word, believing in Him. It is often in the small things, where great faith is grown. Like in a little girl’s desire for popsicles.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7

A few days after Emeria asked Jesus to get her the molds, we went to our weekly Bible study.  To be honest, neither of us had talked about the molds and I had forgotten about them.  Catch this! Just because we forget, doesn’t mean that He does. Increasing our faith, He is always at work.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. – Luke 22:32

“Hey Melissa,” said my beautiful, Holy Spirit led friend Linda.

“I was cleaning out my cupboards this weekend and I found two sets of these popsicle molds and I feel like the Lord wants you to have them,” she claimed as she handed me a bag full of pieces and parts of popsicle molds.

I sat on the couch with my mouth hanging open, stunned.

The Lord saw me. The Lord heard my sweet daughter’s prayer offered in faith with confidence that He would answer her. The Lord showed His love to us both through the willing obedience of a faithful friend.

Oh Lord, I needed this! More than I ever realized, did I need this miracle to penetrate the increasing hopelessness that a hard life can sometimes produce. Jesus knew that it was always about more than juice pops. That is was always about increasing my faith and the faith of my family.

Be on the lookout for chances for your faith to increase. Never dismiss even the smallest opportunities for Jesus to grow your faith. Expect it! Expect to meet Him today in the ordinary and see where He takes you.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25-26