I was sitting on a bench outside of Bob Evans® Restaurant waiting on my family. As I sat in the sun next to the American flag pole surrounded by colorful flowers and crisp green trees, I felt such a sense of peace. I have been praying for something specific in my life, and I just felt God tell me right there on that bench that I need to continue to have hope. Then a little butterfly flew right by me to rest on the flowering bush. One of God’s small, simple, beautiful creations made me smile as I felt His presence flittering around me.

 You see I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, and I’ve been praying a lot and haven’t really seen the answers I want. And sometimes God doesn’t give us the answers we want. But His plan is better than my plan. His ways are better than my ways. His thoughts are better than my thoughts.

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8.

 I know all that. I’ve read it. I’ve prayed it. But that day, God sat me on a little wooden bench in a flower garden outside of a restaurant and reminded me of it. Sitting on a bench. Waiting patiently. Taking in all the wonders around me that God put there. I think Forrest Gump was on to something!