February 19, 2026
Moving The Snow
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
The freshly cleared sidewalk gleams in winter sunlight—two hours of back-breaking work finally complete. Then comes the rumble of the snowplow. You watch in disbelief as the driver deliberately angles the blade, pushing a fresh wall of heavy, compacted snow directly onto your cleared path. He didn’t have to do that. The street is wide enough. This was a choice, and now you’re staring at the same job you just finished.
Some difficulties in life come not from impersonal forces but from deliberate actions of others. The coworker who undermines your project. The neighbor who spreads rumors. The relative who reopens old wounds. Like that snowplow driver, some people seem intent on pushing hardship back into paths you’ve worked diligently to clear.
In these moments, God’s involvement takes two forms. Sometimes, He strengthens you to face the same challenge again. Like Paul who prayed for his thorn to be removed, you hear, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). You shovel the same walk again, sustained by divine strength beyond your natural reserves.
Other times, God sends human help—someone who notices your struggle and steps in to lighten your load. When Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ weary arms during battle (Exodus 17:12), they became God’s answer to a need Moses couldn’t meet alone. When the early church shared resources so none were in need (Acts 4:34), God’s provision flowed through human channels.
Whether you receive strength to persevere or help to overcome, the source remains the same. God never leaves you to face deliberate hardship alone. Both the renewed strength and the unexpected helper bear the same fingerprints of divine love.
Today’s Prayer: Father, when others deliberately add to my burdens, help me recognize Your presence in my frustration. Amen.
Reflection Question: When has God helped you face a deliberately created hardship through either renewed strength or unexpected help?