Encouragement for Today

July 10, 2026 When You Can’t See What God Is Doing CHRYSTAL EVANS HURST Lee en español

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? …” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

Recently I found myself scrolling through old photos. What started as a quick search turned into a quiet walk down memory lane. I saw my kids as babies, saw the home that held our early days and everyday lives.

Those seasons felt exhausting while I was in them, full of diapers, dishes, and long days that didn’t seem especially meaningful. I was living faithfully but not always with a sense of significance. I definitely didn’t always see what God was doing.

Some photos also took me back to one of the hardest seasons — when my fourth child was born with a nerve injury that left his arm without movement. For months, I spent my days researching, massaging his arm, and praying for healing. And when recovery didn’t come quickly, I wondered what his future would look like.

Then one summer, I met a college student with the same condition. He was working at a coffee shop, confidently doing his job with one functioning arm. As we talked, he told me he played the guitar.

“I can do anything,” he said. “It might be harder, but I can do it.”

That moment gave me something I didn’t realize I needed — hope. Not because my circumstances had changed but because I caught a glimpse of what could be.

That’s what hope does. It allows us to look beyond what we see right now. It helps us believe our current reality is not the full story.

Looking back, I can see God was working in those ordinary and difficult days. He was building something in me: deeper faith, stronger trust, and resilient hope.

In Isaiah 43:19, God reminds us, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” The question isn’t whether God is working but whether we have the eyes to recognize it.

Sometimes we don’t. And in those moments, though we long for hope, we may not feel hopeful. But hope is not always something we feel — it’s something we choose.

So here’s the invitation: Look at your life, and reflect on what you’ve walked through. If you’re in a hard season, don’t rush past it — but don’t define your story by it either.

Choose hope.

Practically that might look like:

• Pausing and remembering where God has been faithful before.
• Looking for small glimpses of growth, even if they feel insignificant.
• Speaking the Truth of Scripture over your situation, even when your feelings disagree.

Today my son is in college. He works as a barista. And, yes, he plays the guitar.

Your situation may be different, and you may not yet see the full picture, but God is still writing your story too. Even now, He is doing something new.

Dear Lord, help me lift my eyes from what feels ordinary and hard so I can see the new thing You are doing. Give me a heart that hopes, eyes that notice, and faith to keep walking even when I can’t see the whole path. Thank You for being the God who renews, restores, and never stops working. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Friend, the countdown is real. Women are packing bags, planning outfits, and texting “see you there!” — and you still have a front-row seat waiting online. If you’ve ever felt that nudge that there’s more for you — more courage, more clarity, more purpose — this weekend is not random. She Speaks exists because what God has done in you isn’t meant to stop with you. There’s a calling worth living out, and sometimes you just need a room (or a livestream) that reminds you of that. Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for perfect timing. Decide now that you’re showing up expectant. Reserve your free spot for the She Speaks livestream before it begins.

ENGAGE

Want more encouragement on learning to rest and trust God’s leadership? Follow Crystal on Instagram @chrystalhurst.

Looking for community and a deeper connection? Join The Sister Circle — a space for women to grow in faith, purpose, and everyday rhythms of life.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Revelation 21:5a, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (NIV).

Isaiah 43:19c, “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (NIV).

Take a few quiet moments to reflect on these verses. What new thing might God be doing in your life right now that’s easy to overlook? What areas feel like wilderness or wasteland, dry, barren, or uncertain? What would it look like to believe God is making a way even there?

Think back on the past few seasons. How has God been working behind the scenes, even when it didn’t feel like it in the moment?

We’d love to know what spoke to your heart in today’s devotion. Join the conversation and share in the comments below!

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