ondemand

Turning Our Hearts to See God Winks

Rest and Renewal in God’s Presence

After losing her brother Jacob in a tragic car accident, Anne Wilson began to notice small, tender reminders of God’s nearness—what she calls “God-winks.”

We all long for rest. Not just physical rest, but soul-deep stillness—that quiet confidence that reminds us we’re not alone, even in the middle of heartbreak or uncertainty. But sometimes rest doesn’t come in the ways we expect. Sometimes, rest comes in the form of a dove circling your window.

“Seeing a dove has always kind of been a sign. Since he died, we had a dove that lived outside of our house for the first six months… Just really crazy how the Holy Spirit kind of spoke through that—just of peace.”

It’s often in the rawness of grief that we discover the gentle ways God draws near. For Anne, it wasn’t just the dove. It was in the small encounters—echoes of Jacob’s life showing up unexpectedly and tenderly.

“Just like a little God-winks throughout the day… I met a little boy… at a show, and his name was Jacob. And he was so cute and… acted like Jacob. And then I just started bawling… It’s moments like that where I’ll just see Jacob through a person—just reminding me that He’s with me.”

Anne Wilson

God’s peace isn’t always loud. Sometimes it shows up in the smallest details, reminding us to breathe. To pause. To notice that God is with us.

Rest is not the absence of pain—but the presence of Jesus in it.

“Jesus is with you. He’s with you in the hard moments, in the beautiful moments, and everything in between. He’s holding your hand and wanting to walk you through it.” Anne shared. “And I believe that Jesus is weeping with you through the hardest moments of your life,. He wants to comfort you in ways that you could never, ever imagine.”

Recognizing God’s Gentle Rest in Your Day

What if today’s invitation is to notice the simple things God brings?

  • A sunset that slows your racing mind.
  • A smile from a stranger at the right moment.
  • A scripture verse that feels like it was written just for you.

Anne Wilson

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3 NKJV).

These may seem small, but they are signs of a God who is present, personal, and peace-giving.

  • Have you ever experienced a “God-wink”—a small but sacred reminder of God’s presence?
  • Where might God be inviting you to find rest today—not through escape, but through awareness?

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV).

Rest isn’t out of reach. Sometimes, it’s right outside your window—on the wings of a dove.

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