Sometimes people send me lovely stories about how we just try to walk straight in our ordinary way. I received one from Peter, and I would like to share it with you:

On a beautiful spring morning, I went for a walk in the mountains with my dogs. The bulbs were bursting from the mountain soil after a devastating fire, and the soil was soaked after two years’ good rainfall. I felt so much grace, as if all of creation was rejoicing together.

I sat down on a rock and spoke out loud to God. I make so many mistakes … struggling with sin, anger, neglect, and unbelief. I asked: “Lord, won’t You also speak to me?”

I was scared of my own words. Just think, that’s quite a request! If He actually spoke, I’d probably be terrified! I’d collapse even more than Moses at the burning bush, trembling before Him. I wasn’t even sure I could handle it. Did I really know what I was asking?

And then I wondered: What can a person ask from God? Like Gideon with his sheepskin? My thoughts raced: “What if today, just as a sign, the Lord lets the Springboks win against the mighty All Blacks?” And then I scolded myself: “No, you don’t ask for things like that!”

I walked on. I saw termites that were already harvesting – six months ahead of us – carrying spring grass to their nest. A yellow canary nest hidden among the proteas with three small eggs in it. A meerkat diligently digging at old termite holes. I was enjoying God’s incredible creation.

Back at home, the match started with a pathetic kick-off. I was furious at Handré and everyone and everything. Joel Stransky said, “This is the worst possible start.”

Only five minutes before, he’d remarked that he hoped they would perform well, having observed their diligent training while staying at their hotel. At least they started playing better. And that wasn’t without Willie’s yellow card and Flouw’s knock-on.

I believe many of us feared the worst until the last minute! We’re so used to losing, to things going wrong, to bad news.

But when they finally won, I remembered my early morning prayer. My unreasonable request. And I cried together with Pieter-Steph du Toit. Not just about winning, but about my unbelief – and the Lord’s great mercy. I cried about our country, about my sin, about our hopelessness, our suffering, our impatience – especially when someone made a mistake.

And yet, I know this for sure: God loves me. Very much. And everything will work out. All I need to do is believe. I want and I do believe. I believe in God!

Yes, I also believe He hears us and often surprises us – not necessarily where or how we expect, but in the quiet byways of life, precisely where we aren’t even looking.

Maybe we should learn to expect more from God. For being more present, more alive, and precisely in places where it feels strange to us.

Scripture
1 John 5:14-21

Reflection
Do you still pray?
Do you expect God to show up?
Where?

Prayer
Father, I sometimes wonder where You are in my life. I want to expect You everywhere. Amen.