Quiet Time: Joy - Story

Imagine a small village nestled in the hills, where life moves at a gentle pace. The sun rises each morning, casting a golden hue over the fields, and the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. In this village lived a woman named Maria, known for her radiant joy even amidst life’s challenges. People often wondered how she maintained such a bright spirit, especially when her own circumstances were far from perfect.

One day, a neighbor approached Maria, seeking her secret. With a warm smile, she led him to her small garden, a patch of land where she devoted her mornings to planting seeds. “Each day, I come here, kneeling in the soil, feeling it between my fingers. I speak to God, sharing my hopes and fears. I listen, too. It’s here I find clarity, and it’s here where I feel Him guiding me,” she explained.

As they watched the budding flowers sway in the breeze, Maria shared how each bloom mirrored God’s promise from Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you.” She spoke of obedience not as a burden, but as a pathway to discovering divine purpose, even in serving others. Through her quiet time, she learned that joy is cultivated in the soil of service, nurtured by the community around us, and rooted in a relationship with God.

In her simple acts of devotion, Maria was not just tending to her garden; she was tending to her soul. In moments of service and obedience, she found joy, and through her joy, she invited others into the warmth of God’s love. Let us also find spaces in our lives to kneel down, listen, and bloom where we are planted, reflecting the beauty of our Creator’s plans.