Momspirational Life

Sometimes God protects what you didn’t even know needed protecting.

Thirteen years ago, I thought I had lost something precious forever. I was living in Colorado, adjusting to life while my husband was stationed at Fort Carson, and I was taking care of our baby. In the chaos of moving and unpacking, I had two piles of things: one to donate to Goodwill and one to sort through for later.

Among those items was my senior-year art binder — a collection of work I had poured my heart into and treasured deeply. Somehow, I accidentally placed it on the Goodwill pile, stacked other things on top without realizing it, and forgot all about it. Like most individuals, the Goodwill pile stays in a designated spot for a hot minute until you remember it is there.

When my parents visited a few months later, my dad offered to drop the Goodwill items off back in Tennessee. I was gracious for that because I was still new to Colorado Springs area, and I was not yet comfortable with driving in such a huge city.

I later realized that my art binder was gone. I was so heartbroken, and I thought my husband had taken it to a Goodwill because I asked him to take the other bag to Goodwill for me. I thought it was lost forever. How could something so important just vanish?

Fast forward to today, I was going through a box of my things from my childhood home in Tennessee. My siblings and I were going through things in our childhood home. I took a couple of boxes to my home, and they sat to the side for two months. This week, I decided to go through the boxes. And there it was — my art binder, sitting quietly among other keepsakes. I was stunned. How did it end up here after all these years? How did it end up in my childhood home when I lost it in Colorado?

It turns out my dad had gone through the bag when he got home to make sure I didn’t accidently put something in there (he knew I was prone to things like that) and quietly saved the binder, putting it in a safe spot — without telling me. He protected it for me all these years, knowing it was something I would treasure. I didn’t think to ask him about the binder because I would not have expected it in Tennessee.

God Connection

This moment brought to my mind a heartfelt truth I want to share with you: God looks out for us in ways we often don’t realize. Occasionally, what we perceive as lost — be it a cherished dream, a beloved relationship, or even a piece of our own identity — is being lovingly safeguarded by Him. He understands what we cannot fully grasp, protects what we feel helpless to defend, and works quietly in the backdrop, ensuring that we receive it back at precisely the right moment.

Friend, maybe you’ve lost something recently — or maybe you’ve been waiting for something you fear is gone forever. This story is proof that God never loses track of what’s precious to you. He knows how to protect it, even when you don’t realize it’s missing.

Take a moment today to reflect on what God has kept safe for you, even when it didn’t make sense at the time. And trust that in His perfect timing, He can bring it back into your hands — just like He did mine.

Have you ever had something you thought was lost, only to have it return in an unexpected way? I’d love to hear your story — share it in the comments below and let’s celebrate the ways God quietly works in our lives!

Love,
Tabitha