The Aisle Where God Checked My Heart

Sometimes God doesn’t speak in thunder or fire—sometimes He meets us in the middle of a grocery store aisle. Between Christmas decorations and clearance toys, I found myself confronted with a quiet truth about desire, timing, and trust.

I’m walking through the store, picking up a few grocery items. It’s the Christmas season, and this happens to be my weekend without my little one, so I decide to sneak a peek down the toy aisle. As I walk, a random thought crosses my mind—a quiet desire to be with a significant other. Almost immediately, I push the thought aside because the person who comes to mind is not a viable option. Still, I whisper a small prayer, asking God to send me my person.

I make my way down the girls’ toy aisle, and as I pass by, I begin selecting items I know my little one would absolutely love. I’m reminded of conversations we’ve had about things she noticed weeks or even months ago. I pick up a few items I imagine will brighten her Christmas morning. Mind you, these aren’t necessarily the things she asked for on her Christmas list, but as her parent, I know what she likes—and what she needs.

Then I spot the toys she actually requested. They’re small, inexpensive items that I know will likely break within a day or get lost within a week. The toys she wants lack quality and longevity—cheap thrills meant only for the moment.

And in that moment, I hear the Holy Spirit’s gentle voice of reflection.

I’m reminded of Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord—plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you an expected end.” God has always given me the desires of my heart when they align with His greater plans—or He’s given me something far beyond what I asked for.

For example, I once wanted a Ford Escape. What God gave me instead was a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350—something I believed I couldn’t afford until much later in life. But God. He provided it within my budget, at an unbelievable price. As I reflected on the small prayer I had whispered just one aisle over, I felt convicted. Just as I know what to buy my child and when to buy it, my Father in heaven knows exactly when to release my person to me—in due season.

He knows that the right person cannot be someone meant only for a temporary thrill. He knows my past, my needs, and the prayers I’ve prayed—both spoken and unspoken. He remembers every specific request and refuses to let me settle for anything that doesn’t align with the expected end He has for my life. He knows, and He spares me from my childish desires, because His ways and His thoughts are higher than my own.

This reminds me of the time I purchased my home. I shared a very specific vision with my realtor. I explained that the house was purposed for the young girls I mentor, so I needed a dining room for shared meals, a basement for play, and multiple bedrooms so no one would have to share a bed or sleep on the floor. Each detail mattered because it was tied to purpose.

As we toured homes, my realtor would gently remind me of that vision. She’d say, “Ms. Wells, this isn’t your house—it doesn’t have the dining room you said you needed for the girls.” She never let me forget what I asked for. Though I appreciated her due diligence, I would become frustrated with the process and forsake my own words and desires, almost costing me my vision. But God. This summer, I ate dinner at the dining room table with my mentee, her children, and my little one. A year ago, I had dinner with another mentee and her boyfriend who are now engaged to be married.

We often do the opposite with God. We tell Him our desires, but like children, we quickly get distracted when something looks cute, familiar, or close enough. When our prayers aren’t answered as quickly as we’d like, we settle for what’s in front of us instead of waiting for Him to manifest what we specifically asked for. Yet Scripture reminds us that if our earthly parents desire to give us good things, how much more does our Father in heaven desire to give us good gifts to those who ask Him?

God remembers every conversation—not just the prayer whispered one aisle ago, but the prayers from childhood, from college, from the notes written on tithe and offering envelopes. God doesn’t play about me, which means He won’t even allow me to sabotage the plans He has for my life. He knows what I truly want.

So I ask you: What are the secret desires in your heart? What have you whispered to God that you’re still waiting on? If you received what you wanted today by your own means, would it reflect every detail you’ve prayed about over time—or would it simply satisfy the moment?

I truly desire companionship. But if my choosing mirrors the way my little one flipped through a Walmart catalog—circling toys that were immature for her age, things she already had, or items that wouldn’t last—I am grateful for a Father in heaven who knows me well enough to give me what I need and what I’ve authentically asked for in our day-to-day conversations, not just what feels good in the season.

To all those who are waiting - waiting on our significant other, a new car, a new home or job, wait on the Lord. Again, I say wait! Wait on God. Trust in His timing, His way, and His will. I pray that as you continue to delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart. Let not your heart be troubled, but always trusting in the Lord knowing that He knows the thoughts and plans for your life, that are not to harm you, but to give you an expected end. I pray God's perfect plan for your life will be fulfilled. Remember, He perfects that which concerns us. Stay encouraged and keep your trust and hope in God.

Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 7:11; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 37:4; John 14:1; Psalm 138:8

By Tatiana Wells