A Prayer to Notice Hidden Wonders - Your Daily Prayer - April 12

Audio By Carbonatix

A Prayer to Notice Hidden Wonders 
By Sophia Bricker 

Bible Reading:
“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” - Matthew 6:28-30, ESV

Listen or Read Below:

In Robert Frost’s “The Tuft of Flowers,” he paints a rural scene of a man setting out to complete farm duties. Another man, a co-laborer, had mowed the grass earlier in the day, but when the speaker in the poem surveys the work, he sees a butterfly drifting nearby and wonders why it is looking for flowers among freshly cut grass. That’s when he notices it–tufts of flowers that were left untouched by the scythe. As Frost wrote: “I left my place to know them by their name / Finding them butterfly weed when I came. / The mower in the dew had loved them thus, / By leaving them to flourish, not for us, / Nor yet to draw one thought of ours to him. But from sheer morning gladness at the brim” (Selected Poems of Robert Frost, Fall River Press, 2017, p. 33).  

In this patch is an unexpected beauty, milkweed plants that made the other man pause in his morning duties to admire their glory, and which remind the speaker he is not alone in his work. There are other kindred spirits working alongside him, even if not at the same time.  

Many of Frost’s poems capture this sense of hidden beauty among the wild growth of nature. Wildflowers grow unnoticed until seen by a surprised onlooker. In another poem, “Rose Pogonias,” workers are halted in their mowing when they happen upon orchids growing in a meadow. Both poems capture the sense of wonder that comes from observing the fruits of nature, even when they grow wildly out of sight.  

Jesus’ parable likewise draws upon the beauty of wildflowers. He turns the audience's attention to the lilies of the field and how they grow without any additional striving. God, in His kindness and wisdom, has adorned the grasses of the field in this way, providing lovely clothing to nature. His words echo what He said earlier about the birds of the air, who do not store up food for the future yet are still fed (Matthew 6:26-27).  

Our Lord used these examples to remind us of practical spiritual truths. God clothes the fields and feeds the birds, so why do we worry incessantly about these parts of life? Our anxiety could be eased if we paused to notice the wonders around us, especially those hidden beauties of daily life that teach us valuable lessons about the Lord’s caring provision. The Apostle Paul even included the examples of normal events, like rain showers or harvests, when mentioning the Creator’s care (Acts 14:17). Around us is a world of reminders of God’s love; yet, too often, we turn a blind eye to their testimony.  

What might happen if we started to pause and consider the hidden wonders around us? Perhaps we will heed Jesus’ advice and stop worrying about everyday necessities. Then, we could walk more steadily by setting the Kingdom of God as the first priority in our lives, all because of the testimony of a growing flower, chirping bird, or rainy day.  

Let’s Pray: 

Lord of the flowers and birds, help me to obey Your words and learn from the lessons of nature so that I may be a better citizen of Your Kingdom. You have placed so many reminders of Your love and care into the world, reminding us not to worry but to trust in Your provision. Far too often, though, I fail to heed these examples. And I often overlook the presence of the hidden wonders around me that point to You.

Grant me eyes that see and take notice, and ears that listen to the songs and sounds of the creation around me. May I listen to the sermons of their beautiful presence in my daily life so that I am awakened again by the wonder of knowing You, the Creator and Savior of all.

In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/FG Trade 

Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site  Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.

Related Resource: What If God’s Heart Toward You Is Kinder Than You Think?

In this episode of Talk About That, you will laugh along with stories about children’s books, volleyball mornings, St. Patrick’s Day, and even the questionable legacy of the Power Team, but underneath the humor is a thoughtful conversation about one of the deepest questions of faith: how God truly sees us. John and Jonnie reflect on weakness, mercy, and the struggle many believers feel in accepting that God is not only patient with them, but genuinely pleased to call them His own. It’s an honest, encouraging reminder that our relationship with God is not built on performance, perfection, or “having it all together,” but on His love, grace, and fatherly delight in His children. You'll come away challenged to see yourself less through the lens of self-criticism and more through the steady, compassionate eyes of a God who knows you fully, loves you deeply, and may just be rooting for you more than you realize. If you laughed out loud listening to this episode, be sure to follow Talk About That on Apple and Spotify!