God’s answers might just be hidden in the ordinary

A quote from DaySpring writing community contributor Ligia Andrade that reads,

I wasn’t your average 17-year-old dreaming about weekends at the mall or sleepovers with friends.

Instead, I was consumed with trying to provide for my younger brother and me. I was determined to create some sense of normalcy in our lives, even though “normal” had been ripped away from us when our world was shattered years earlier. 

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You see, years prior, our parents had abandoned us. Then, because I was living undocumented in the United States, immigration authorities sent me back to Canada. I was still underage and completely alone, separated from my Abuelita (grandmother in Spanish), who had become the only consistent source of love, stability and security I had ever known. Just weeks after I arrived in Canada, my younger brother was sent to live with me, and overnight, I became his primary caregiver. His well-being was now my responsibility. 

While most of my friends were worrying about exams, graduation and what they would wear to the next school dance, I was worrying about paying rent, keeping the lights on, putting food on the table, and somehow finishing my final year of high school. 

Those days were filled with late-night shifts at our local Tim Hortons, weekly visits to different food banks, and the kindness of an Anglican church that helped us through the last week of each month. That was how my brother and I survived. 

And yes, this, too, was God's provision.   

I remember one particular day when I was desperately searching for a better-paying job. Our fridge was nearly empty. I knew that if I only bought eggs, milk and bread, somehow we could make it until our next trip to the food bank. 

My bank account, as usual, was empty. 

I walked to the local mall with a folder full of résumés. Back then, online job searches weren’t common. Shopping malls posted lists of stores that were hiring, and I would spend hours going from one storefront to another, handing out résumés, filling out paper applications, and hoping I might have the chance to speak with a manager. 

And if God really wanted to show off, maybe I’d even get hired on the spot—Hey, this girl had a lot of faith! 

After making my way through every store on the list, I came up empty-handed. Discouraged, I began preparing for the long walk home, knowing that, once again, faith would have to carry my brother and me through another day.   

Now, I’m not someone who typically uses public washrooms. Call me a germophobe, but unless it’s absolutely necessary, I’d much rather wait until I get home. Knowing I had a long walk ahead of me, however, I decided to stop before leaving the mall. 

As I hurried through the maze of stalls, something bright caught my eye. Lying on the floor was what appeared to be a crumpled piece of paper. Curious, I bent down, picked it up, and as I stepped into the privacy of a stall, I began unfolding it. 

It wasn't paper at all. It was a fifty-dollar bill.  

I just sat there in stunned silence. Then relief washed over me. We were going to be okay. 

I wouldn’t have to make the long walk home feeling defeated; instead, I could take the bus and rest. My brother and I would have food on the table. We wouldn’t go to bed hungry. 

In fact, we never did. The Lord always provided. What amazes me most isn’t just that He provided. It’s how He provided. 

His provision came wrapped in something unexpected, something unassuming. To anyone else, it may have looked like a worthless piece of crumpled paper lying on a dirty washroom floor. But because I was willing to stoop low enough to pick up what others may have dismissed as trash, I discovered that what appeared insignificant was actually the answer to my prayer. 

That experience has stayed with me for years. Well into my forties now, I still often wonder how many times our Heavenly Father answers our prayers in ways we don’t expect.  

How often does His provision arrive disguised as an ordinary moment, a humble opportunity or an inconvenient interruption? 

How many blessings have we overlooked because they didn’t resemble the miracle we had imagined?

Sometimes God’s answers require us to bend low, to lay aside our preferences, our pride or our expectations, and trust that He is at work in places we would normally overlook. 

The miracle wasn't hidden because God wanted to make life difficult. It was hidden in plain sight.   

Perhaps that’s how God’s grace often comes: not always through spectacular displays of power, but through ordinary moments made holy by His presence. The older I get, the more I realize that spiritual maturity isn’t simply learning to look up for miracles. It’s also learning to look down, to notice the quiet ways God faithfully places His provision right in front of us. 

Because sometimes the answer to our prayers looks an awful lot like a crumpled piece of paper lying on the floor. 

A black and white portrait of DaySpring contributing author Ligia Andrade.

Ligia (Lee-hee-ya) Andrade was born in Antigua, Guatemala, and currently resides in Canada. She is a devoted wife, mother and leader. Ligia is passionate about serving others and sharing her story of God’s grace and redeeming power. She has a profound love for God and people.