The Blessings Under Our Beds: Finding God in the Unexpected Places

The Blessings Under Our Beds: Finding God in the Unexpected Places

by | Jun 15, 2026 | Featured, Life Advice, LO Library, Perspective, Perspective, Prayer, Trust, Waiting

Hey friend, Can I ask you something? How has God been speaking to you lately? When have you felt His voice the clearest? Maybe an answer immediately came to mind. Or maybe you’re thinking,  Honestly? Heaven feels pretty quiet right now.

If that’s you, you’re not alone. 

We’ve all had seasons where we desperately want a neon sign from heaven, only to feel like we’re getting radio silence instead. But I’ve been learning that God often doesn’t speak the loudest in the big, dramatic, mountaintop moments we expect. Sometimes He shows up in the most ordinary, random, and honestly kind of ridiculous moments of everyday life. The other day, He used a pair of AirPods to remind me of that truth. And trust me, it wasn’t the spiritual lesson I was expecting that day… Like every girl in her twenties romanticizing a day of meetings, emails, and desk work, I decided to spend the morning working from a cute antique coffee shop in Historic Downtown Franklin, Tennessee (think Hallmark movie meets Nashville). Dressed in my favorite thrifted oversized overalls, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

Then I froze.

My AirPods were missing. How was I supposed to have a productive workday without my carefully curated lo-fi playlist serenading me in the background?Naturally, I began a full-scale search operation. I checked my desk. My nightstand. My purse. Under the couch cushions. Every corner of my room. Nothing. After about twenty minutes of searching (okay, maybe ten, but it felt like twenty), I finally accepted defeat. There was only one option left: The old faithful wired earbuds. You know the ones. The ancient artifacts that somehow survived every technological advancement of the last decade. Slightly humbled, I reached under my bed to dig them out. And then, there they were. My AirPods! Somehow they had slipped underneath my bed while charging. Not only had I found them, but they were sitting there at full battery. At that moment, I couldn’t help but laugh. Not just at the ridiculousness of the situation, but at the way my Heavenly Father gently teaches me lessons when I least expect them. It felt like He was reinforcing something that He’s been teaching me all year:

It’s not until we become content in the portion God has placed before us that He often decides to upgrade it.

We often see this principle throughout Scripture, and one of my favorite examples is in the life of David. Before he wore a crown, he faithfully tended sheep. Before he led a nation, he served King Saul. Before he was celebrated, he spent years being overlooked. And perhaps the wildest part? The very king that David served and honored was the same king who would later persecute him. Sometimes God calls us to go low and give the honor we wish we were receiving. Not because He’s forgotten us. Not because He’s punishing us. But because humility is often the pathway He uses to prepare us.

1 Peter 5:6 says: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you.”

Can I tell you my least favorite part of that verse? “At the proper time.” No timeline. No countdown. No estimated delivery date. Just trust. As someone who loves a plan, a spreadsheet, and clear instructions, this part makes me want to insert a dramatic eye roll every time I read it in my Bible. But when I look closer at the verse, I notice something important. There are two actions happening: 

Humble yourself. He will exalt.

One belongs to me. One belongs to God. The humbling is my responsibility. The exalting is His. And while we wait between those two moments, God isn’t wasting time. He’s refining. He’s sanctifying. He’s shaping our character to steward the very things we’re praying for. Which brings me back to my AirPods… When I found them, one detail immediately stood out: They were fully charged. Though they were hidden, they were still being prepared for exactly what they were created to do. And I couldn’t help but wonder how often God does the same thing in our lives… How many prayers feel hidden when they’re actually being prepared? How many dreams feel forgotten when they’re actually being charged for the right moment? How many blessings seem delayed when God is simply making them ready?

I recently heard a song lyric that says: “You take Your time, so I can’t wait to see what You do with mine.” And honestly, that’s the posture I’m learning to adopt. Because during those few minutes of searching for my AirPods, God wasn’t just teaching me about patience. He was exposing the difference between my desire and the vessel attached to it. My desire was simple: I wanted to listen to music. The vessel attached to that desire? My AirPods. What I realized is that God honored my desire. But He wanted me to loosen my grip on how that desire had to be fulfilled. The moment I became willing to use the wired earbuds, I found the AirPods.

And isn’t that often how God works? We surrender the dream. Then we realize we also have to surrender the timeline. Then we realize we also have to surrender the method. And suddenly following Jesus feels a lot less like a sprint and a lot more like a slow trot of trust.

It’s one thing to surrender our desires to God. It’s a completely different thing to surrender their timing and method of delivery.

Maybe you’re waiting for a relationship. A promotion. A breakthrough. A new opportunity. A clearer sense of purpose. Or maybe you’re just asking God for more joy on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. Whatever season you’re in, take heart: God is not preparing you instead of your blessing. He’s often preparing both you and the blessing at the same time. And can I tell you the sweetest revelation I’ve discovered?

The blessing was ultimately never the AirPods. Or the boyfriend. Or the promotion. Or the smaller pants size. Or even the answered prayer.

The blessing has always been His presence. Because if we’re honest, haven’t we all experienced getting something we desperately wanted only to realize we’re still longing for more? The promotion comes, and there’s another goal. The relationship comes, and there are still insecurities. The accomplishment comes, and somehow the satisfaction doesn’t last as long as we expected.

That’s because what our hearts are truly craving isn’t a change in circumstances. It’s closeness with Jesus.

Psalm 84:11 says: “He withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly.”

Friend, God isn’t holding out on you. He’s holding out for you. When Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom, He’s not withholding blessings. He’s showing us where they’re ultimately fulfilled. Because His presence satisfies what achievement never can. His peace settles what no relationship can. His love fills what no earthly success ever could.

And when we stop chasing blessings and start chasing Him, we often discover He was preparing both us and the blessing all along. Take it from me—a girl whose life looks nothing like she thought it would: God’s ways are always better. And maybe, just maybe, those wired headphones wouldn’t have been so bad after all 😉 

I Was Blocking My Blessing

I Was Blocking My Blessing

by | Dec 2, 2025 | Featured, Life Advice, LO Library

I was 20 the first time I realized I was hustling my way straight past the blessings I kept begging God for.

And of course, it happened during the holidays.

I was sitting in my car in the Target parking lot—peppermint mocha in hand, to-do list spiraling out of control—trying to convince myself that if I just worked harder, prayed longer, pushed a little more… maybe I could speed God up on whatever He was doing with my life.

Maybe if I finally did everything “right,” the thing I wanted would finally show up.

A relationship.
 Clarity about my future.
 A sense of purpose.
 Just… something.

So naturally, instead of resting or praying, I opened Instagram.

Instant regret.

Within seconds, my feed was overflowing with couples ice skating under string lights, perfect friend groups in matching PJ sets, holiday engagements, new apartments and shiny promotions, and cozy families in beautifully decorated homes.

And somewhere between the fifth engagement post and the third European Christmas, something in me just… sank. 

“What am I doing wrong?”

But here’s the truth:

Nothing in my life was actually wrong.

I just wasn’t receiving anything—because I was too busy trying to manufacture it myself.

Scripture Doesn’t Tiptoe Around This—It Confronts It

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us keep our eyes on Jesus.”

But striving pulls your eyes everywhere except Him.

Scripture even gives us a picture of this: Peter stepped out of the boat toward Jesus with confidence—until he took his eyes off Jesus and started striving against the waves. The moment he tried to handle the chaos on his own, he began to sink (Matthew 14:30).

Striving is a wave.

It looks responsible, spiritual, even productive, but it will absolutely drag you under.

And it sneaks in quietly, too—through a “to-do” list that never ends, a conversation you feel like you should have prepared for, or the mental checklist of everything you think God is waiting for you to accomplish before He moves.

What God Whispered to My Heart That Day

As I sat in my car—half caffeinated, half spiraling—Psalm 139:14 came to mind:

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Not once you’ve earned it.

Not once you’ve hustled, hurried, or hoped enough.

Not once you’re engaged or promoted.

Not once you’ve proven yourself worthy.

Not once you’ve caught up to anyone else’s timeline.

Already.

And it hit me:

God wasn’t withholding blessing because I wasn’t trying hard enough.
 I was missing the blessing because I wasn’t still enough to receive it.

What Actually Helped

I didn’t transform overnight—trust me.
 I did start calling myself out when I slipped into chronic overachiever mode. And no, I didn’t magically become this serene, peaceful, Pinterest-girl version of myself.

(A girl can only dream.)

But I began to notice the moments where striving showed up:

  • Staying late at work to “prove” I was capable instead of trusting God with career timing.
  • Over-planning Christmas gifts and schedules to manufacture joy rather than letting it unfold.
  • Mentally running my relationships, trying to fix people and situations instead of walking in grace.

After some deep reflection, I realized my tendency to do this all stemmed from lies I had been believing. I then started catching the lies and replacing them with truth:

Lie: “If I don’t make it happen, it won’t happen.”
 Truth: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

Lie: “I should be further by now.”
 Truth: “He makes everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Lie: “God must be waiting for me to get it together first.”
 Truth: “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Slowly—like, slowly—my clenched fists loosened.
 My heart softened.
 And joy finally had space to breathe again, but only after I allowed it to.

I learned that happiness rises and falls…
 but joy is steady.

Because joy has a name.
 And His name is Jesus.

And in His presence?
 There is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11)

Honestly, being with Jesus is so good that everything else just fades into the background.

A Final Word for Your Heart This Holiday Season

If your December feels like one long attempt to “get it together”…
 If you feel behind…
 If you’re hustling for peace…
 If you’re trying to earn the very blessing you’re praying for…

Hear me, sister:
 You’re not running on empty because God is withholding love or favor.
 You may be feeling empty because your hands are busy striving instead of surrendering.

God’s love isn’t earned.
 His favor isn’t unlocked by effort–trust me I’ve tried.
Blessing doesn’t come through performance—it comes through perspective. 

So lift your eyes.
 Loosen your grip.
 Open your hands and look back at Jesus.

Striving can’t survive there—
 but blessing can.
 And friend, it will.

Instead of Striving, Let’s Receive

Instead of hopping on Instagram that day, I wish I would’ve chucked my phone into the backseat and just talked to God. I imagine that prayer would’ve looked something like this:

“Jesus, I’m tired of trying to make things happen on my own. Help me to open my hands, rest my heart, and receive the good things You’ve already prepared for me. Show me the areas where I’m striving instead of surrendering. Remind me that Your love isn’t earned, Your timing is perfect, and Your joy is steady. Teach me to trust, to breathe, and to walk in Your presence. Amen.”

Friend, I want to invite you to do the same. Take a quiet moment this holiday season—or even right now—and hand over the areas where you’ve been hustling, worrying, or trying to manufacture blessing. Ask God to reveal where you’re gripping too tightly and to guide you into rest, trust, and joy.

Lift your eyes.
 Loosen your grip.
 Open your hands.

Striving can’t survive there—but blessing can.
 And trust me when I say: it will.

Anna Savacool is a LO Local Ambassador based in Nashville, TN. She graduated from Florida State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Biblical Studies at The Belonging Co Seminary. Anna is passionately called to write, speak, and testify to women, specifically equipping them in their identity in Christ and encouraging young adult women to embrace their biblical identity. She is the author of an upcoming book she is thrilled to release and dreams of continuing to speak, teach, and bring messages of redemption to our culture for years to come. 

Follow her journey on Instagram @annasavacool.