I had wanted to be spending that money on my honeymoon, not on a trip by myself, but now that wedding was no longer happening . . . .

I didn't yet have a family that was dependent upon me. My business was not even where I wanted it to be yet, so not even my clients would be affected if I stayed or left. No one would really care what I decided.

I had so much freedom, but the freedom honestly felt quite frightening and also sad. Every reason why I could take this trip seemed to shine a piercing light into all of the sensitive areas of my life that I felt should have been different by now.

Once I realized this, I knew this was the exact reason why I needed to go. I decided to press in and see what surprises might be in store.

I bought my ticket to Europe six days before I walked onto that plane and made the trip across the ocean. Traveling by myself in one of the most romantic cities, Paris, turned out to be one of the best gifts I have ever given myself. Standing before the grotto in Lourdes on the actual feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes seemed to quietly promise me the prophecies of today's First Reading within my soul.

"The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song" (Isaiah 35:1).

Abundance. Beauty. Restoration. This is what God does and how He saves, over and over in every circumstance in our lives. And the truth is that often, if the unfortunate circumstances had not happened, we perhaps would not be able to receive the even more abundant gifts that God has to offer us.

What is the gift that is present for you today that you would not otherwise be able to receive if you did not also have your current limitations? How can you press in to receive God's surprises?

[bctt tweet="Receive the even more abundant gifts that God has to offer. // Mary Catherine Craige" username="blessedisshe__"]

listen to today’s devotion

Pray for an increase in trust today, for all the surprises along the way.