Several Thanksgivings ago, a quick errand turned into an unexpected adventure. My trip to the grocery store revealed the wonder of redemptive recoveries – finding the needful things we’ve lost.

It started in the produce aisle as my dad revved up a motorized shopping cart. Circling the citrus display, at top speed he hit 1mph.

My then eleven-year-old son easily kept pace with the makeshift sports car. With one eye on my shopping list and the other on my two racers, I continued shopping. Eventually, I moved through the checkout line.

But as we approached the parking lot, I noticed my keys were missing.

Now my mind was racing. Wondering about my keys’ whereabouts, I faced a sad realization. Some lost things go missing for a while.

I knew I could replace my keys. But it’s hard to replace something with a more lasting implication.

We may miss restoring a broken relationship, if we miss the power of forgiveness.

We feel empty if our sense of worth lessens or our faith barely flickers over time. Unless, we cry out to God.

As passersby entered and exited the doors around me, I approached the throne of grace. It wasn’t a lengthy or high-volume prayer.

A “Lord help me find my keys” whisper was all I could muster.

My father’s and son’s race ended just in time. I was grateful for their newfound contentment, but my keys required my attention.

Because as we seek to recover needful things, other things become a distraction.

Walking back through the store, I grew frantic. None of the employees had seen what I’d lost. However, as the store manager realized my dilemma, he made an unexpected sacrifice.

Although the store was busy, he asked for my receipt and carefully traced my steps. Now my whispered prayer took on new meaning.

Whatever we’ve lost, God never leaves us in our losses.

The Good Shepherd always finds His sheep. (Luke 15:1-7) The Good Father always comforts His child. (Luke 11:11-13)

However, unlike the store manager, God knew the exact location of my keys. He also knows the point where we lost our innocence, our confidence or if we’ve lost our way in finding His truth.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, He restores necessary things. As we receive His forgiveness for our sin and His purpose in our lives, whatever we’ve needed is found.

A few minutes later, I got a taste of His redemption. The store manager returned announcing, “Ma’am, I found your keys. They were in the onions!”

Apparently, my father and son’s antics distracted me more than I realized. No wonder my keys were found in the onions.

Sometimes things we long for slip between the layers of what went wrong in life or what we can’t figure out in our hearts.

If you’re needing peace, hope or joy, they may feel hard to find.

But we often find needful things as we learn to be thankful in all things.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)

Some experiences are horrible, uncomfortable or unfair. When that happens, being thankful for all things feels harsh and unrealistic.

However, being thankful in all things doesn’t require dishonesty about my distress; it ignites discoveries about my God.

Here’s what I discovered.

A few years ago, my dad passed away. I miss his speeding through stores in the cart and countless other memories I cherish.

But I find comfort in the most needful thing.

My dad clung to the saving grace in Christ and so do I. Because when needful things are found, it feels like the only thing that matters.