There are moments when knowing your place has nothing to do with position—and everything to do with discernment.
Saturday at the market, I had already purposed in my heart to purchase a bouquet of flowers from the father-and-daughter business directly across from my table.
I watch this young woman every week. She works tirelessly, building beautiful bouquets while her father sells fresh vegetables and produce. She is always moving. Always working. Always smiling.
Saturday was different.
As the day went on, I could see that she was tired. Not just “it’s been a long day” tired. She looked depleted. She was sweating in a way I had never seen before, and eventually, she sat down, leaned her head back, and fell asleep.
I had been waiting for an opportunity to go over and buy my flowers.
But when the opportunity came, something in me knew:
This is not the time to ask her for anything.
So I stayed at my table.
And I prayed.
I prayed that God would strengthen her. Replenish her. Refresh her body and give back to her what she had poured out all day.
At some point she opened her eyes, and our eyes met across the aisle. I simply put my hands together, letting her know without saying a word:
I’m praying for you.
That was it.
I didn’t go over.
I didn’t buy the flowers.
Because in that moment, my place wasn’t to be her customer. My place was to be her intercessor.
By the end of the day, her truck was packed. My cars were packed. The market day was over.
And then she walked over to me carrying this beautiful bouquet.
She handed it to me and simply said,
“See you next Saturday.”
I was deeply touched.
Because the very flowers I had decided not to disturb her to purchase somehow found their way across the aisle to me.
And this morning, as I look at them sitting beautifully in my home, I hear a simple reminder:
Know your place.
Sometimes your place is to speak.
Sometimes your place is to serve.
Sometimes your place is to give.
Sometimes your place is simply to be still enough to recognize what someone else needs.
And sometimes—
your place is to pray.
We don’t have to insert ourselves into every situation to be used by God. There are moments when the greatest thing we can do for another person happens quietly, without announcement, recognition, or applause.
Discernment teaches us not only what to do.
It teaches us when to do it—and when not to.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.” — 1 Timothy 2:1
☕ My Soul Breathes Here…
Lord, make me sensitive enough to recognize the place You have assigned me in each moment. Help me not to be so focused on what I intended to do that I miss what You are asking me to do. Teach me when to speak, when to serve, when to move, and when to simply stand in the gap and pray.
May I never underestimate what You can do through a quiet act of obedience.
And Lord, when You allow me to be a vessel for someone else, remind me that being used by You is gift enough.
Amen.
Know your place.
And when God shows it to you—stand in it. 🤎
With love and prayer,
LadyT
Provoking Thoughts with LadyT
Where My Soul Breathes
