Looking through the window
Sometimes God lets us see the beauty… while quietly preparing us for what’s ahead.
📖 Scripture
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
— Proverbs 22:3
“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
— Psalm 121:8
✍️ Bible Study
This morning it was still dark when I got up to do my Bible study.
The house was quiet. No noise. No distractions. Just stillness.
I sat alone with Him for a few moments before opening His Word—letting my mind slow down and my heart settle. I wanted to be focused, not rushed. Present, not hurried.
Before I even realized how much time had passed, the sun was up. The sky was clear. Light filled the room.
I looked out the window and thought, Wow… what a beautiful day.
I wasn’t thinking about the temperature or the wind. Just the color of the sky. The warmth of the sun spilling across everything it touched. For a moment, life felt simple and good.
But then I looked a little closer.
That’s when I saw them—the bare trees.
And just like that, my thoughts shifted. It’s cold outside.
Those trees were telling a different story than the sky. They were a reminder. A warning. A quiet message that said, Don’t be fooled by the beauty—prepare yourself.
It made me think.
Beauty Without Awareness Can Leave Us Unprepared
There is beauty in everything. Even in difficult seasons. Even in waiting. Even in winter.
But if we aren’t careful, we can get so caught up in how things appear that we walk straight into the cold without a coat.
Those bare trees were doing what God so often does—lovingly warning us.
God uses so many things to protect us.
Sometimes the warnings are bold—like bare trees in winter.
Other times they’re subtle—like a wilted plant, a gentle nudge, a quiet discomfort in our spirit.
And if we’re honest, how many warning signs have we missed?
God Protects While He Reveals
That window I stood looking through did two things at once.
It let me enjoy the beauty…
and it kept me protected.
God does the same.
When we take time to sit with Him—when we slow down enough to listen—He allows us to see the beauty of our lives while still guarding our hearts. He doesn’t hide reality from us, but He prepares us for it.
God’s guidance isn’t meant to steal joy—it’s meant to preserve it.
Learning to See Clearly
The sky wasn’t lying. It was beautiful.
But the trees were telling the truth too.
And life works the same way.
We don’t ignore the beauty.
We don’t live in fear of the cold.
We simply listen.
We thank God for the warmth…
and we put on a coat.
A Gentle Invitation
Today, take a moment to look through the window God has placed in front of you.
What beauty is He inviting you to enjoy?
What warning is He lovingly offering to protect you?
And can you thank Him for both?
Because when we listen—when we stay grateful for His love, His protection, and His guidance—we don’t just survive the season we’re in.
We walk through it prepared…
covered…
and deeply loved.
💭 Reflection
God’s love doesn’t just show us what’s beautiful — it quietly prepares us for what’s real. His warnings are not meant to scare us, but to shelter us. When we slow down enough to notice them, we experience both joy and wisdom.
❓ A Question for You
Where might God be showing you beauty and offering protection at the same time?
👣 Practical Step
Today, pause before making one decision — big or small — and ask God,
“What do You want me to notice here?”
Then act with both gratitude and wisdom.
💌 Invite a Friend
Know someone who’s enjoying the sunshine but needs a gentle reminder to prepare wisely?
Forward this email as a quiet encouragement that God’s love always covers what’s ahead.
