Joy doesn’t always roar.
Often it’s a quiet nod from heaven, a sunrise across a calm lake, a steaming cup of tea, a kind word arriving right when your soul leans toward it. We look for God in grand breakthroughs, but He loves to meet us in the ordinary.
During a difficult season, I kept waiting for something big to shift in my healing, finances, and relationships. Everything felt still. Then one morning I noticed the birds outside my window. Their sweet little songs tugged a smile from me, my first in days. That small joy didn’t fix everything, but it reminded me that God hadn’t left the room. He was with me quiet and steady.
Recently, my husband and I tried a new breakfast spot called The Waffle Monkey. Nothing “epic” happened. We met the owners, Pete and Katheryn, and chatted over warm plates and shared friendly laughter. The waffles were delicious, crisp edges, soft center, the coffee outstanding, and the conversation even kinder.
After breakfast we stopped by The Exchange, the resale shop where we’d purchased and donated furniture before our recent move and there it was…a beautiful wooden writing desk that felt like it had been waiting for me. A desk to hold my words. A small thing, yes. But I felt seen.
Tucked inside a drawer was a small disc with the name Faith (Plotkin) Popcorn, who is a futurist, author, and founder and CEO of the marketing consulting firm BrainReserve. A bit of research told me she had collaborated with Hooker Furniture company to create a line of office pieces designed with women in mind. Voilà, it was now mine, tenderly pre-loved by its previous owner.
We purchased the matching file cabinet that’s pretty enough to serve as a nightstand. A grateful find at a fraction of what I would have paid had I just settled for “anything.” Wow!
Those moments stitched together like tiny lights on a strand, birdsongs, hospitality, an unexpected find, all culminated from the sweetness of an ordinary morning. None of them were headline miracles. Yet each one whispered, I am with you.
Even today, when a crown popped off at breakfast and rearranged my plans, God tucked a detail into my busy day. The dental office called with an earlier time. Breathing room opened where I expected stress. Another small mercy. Another nod from heaven.
Each moment that may have been considered small provided great joy in my heart because none of those moments were ‘as usual’ or planned. I found myself being grateful and not taking any of it for granted.
What God Taught Me About Small Joys
Quiet joy is still real joy. A soft smile and a steady breath count.
(“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24)Small doesn’t mean insignificant. The kingdom loves little seeds.
(“Do not despise these small beginnings…” Zechariah 4:10)Gratitude is the doorway. Thanking God for small gifts stretches the heart to hold more.
(“Give thanks in all circumstances…” 1 Thessalonians 5:18)Faithfulness grows in the little. Show up for tiny assignments and watch God multiply them.
(“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much.” Luke 16:10)
Practices for Noticing Small Joy
Name three small gifts out loud. Morning light on the table. A text from a friend. Warm hands around a mug. Let your body feel the “thank You.”
Keep a “Delight Ledger.” One line a day, something you are delighted in. No explanation needed. It trains your eyes for God’s fingerprints.
The 60-second savor. When joy appears, pause. Close your eyes. Breathe deep. Tell your nervous system, “We are safe. We are grateful.”
Follow the gentle nudge. If your Oura ring or your soul says rest, honor it. Rest isn’t the enemy of productivity; it’s the friend of clarity.
Practice small generosity. A compliment, a thank-you note, a short prayer for the stranger in line. Tiny seeds, eternal fruit.
What I Want for You
Don’t miss the beauty blooming beside you:
A warm breeze
A finished journal page
A belly laugh that surprises you
A quiet “Thank You, Lord”
The smile of a shop owner who remembers your name
A thrifted desk that feels like provision
A schedule glitch that makes unexpected space
Joy is tucked into moments like these. It may not announce itself with trumpets, but it will sit at the table if you make it room. The world says joy must be big to be real. Heaven reminds us little is the language of love.
Today, let’s choose the small things, because small things, blessed by a big God, become holy! I’d love to hear “what small joy did you notice today?” Please leave a comment with your response, so that you can encourage others.
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(“Look at the birds of the air…” Matthew 6:26; “Do not despise these small beginnings…” Zechariah 4:10; “This is the day the Lord has made…” Psalm 118:24.)
Prayer for Joy in the Small Things
“Lord, thank You for the quiet ways You meet me in birdsongs, kind smiles, a desk for my words, a gentle reprieve in a crowded day. Teach me to see what’s already here and to bless small beginnings without rushing past them. Make me faithful in little so I can carry much with humility. Today I choose trust over control and joy over worry. Open my eyes to the gift beside me, and let gratitude be my reflex. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
