December 11, 2020

Photo credit: Heather Rushton

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

A few Octobers ago, I went on a trip to the Muskoka wilderness with a group of friends to attend a women’s retreat. This retreat had a pretty impressive statement, “expect God to show up”.
I had no idea what to expect or how God was going to show up but I was pretty excited to find out.

The weekend began with a session and then quiet prayer. At the end of the first night, I was feeling a little defeated and a bit anxious that I wasn’t “feeling” anything yet. Where was God? Was I missing something? Maybe he just wasn’t going to show up for me.

Day two came and went and still no God.

Day three began with an early morning coffee with one of my closest friends. We chatted about our experience so far and I expressed my frustrations. She then told me to stop looking for God and start listening. That afternoon during quiet reflection time I took the opportunity to get lost in the beauty of October in the Muskoka wilderness. I walked until I found a sunny, grassy patch far from anyone else and I began talking to God. I talked and then I listened and then it happened, God showed up!

I started my conversation off with a deep personal frustration. While I was waiting for some kind of response, I closed my eyes and looked to the sky. Something told me to open them, which I did just in time to see a perfect heart shaped cloud - as if God had given it to me, to let me know He’s listening. I was overcome with a warm sense of peace in that moment.

Over the course of the weekend, I found myself confiding in God, as if we were old friends and every time, He showed up. A heart in a leaf on the ground, the sunshine breaking through the clouds to perfectly shine on my face, a baby wild turkey crossing my path. Every time I confided, He was there.

The peace that that weekend brought to my life is something I will cherish forever. Discovering that no matter what, no matter where, God shows up. That is a peace that can only be found by a close personal relationship with God.

I hope you all feel the peace of God this holiday season. Just listen, He’ll show up. He always does.

Prayer:  Dear God, may we experience the light of your Peace each and every day, not only throughout the holiday season but each day in the coming year.

Breanna Williams MacIntosh lives in Port Williams with her husband Chris, three children, two cats and two dogs.