Lutheran Woman's Quarterly
Summer 2026 — Blessings in Disguise
Editor's Note
Have you ever been late? As a young mom, this was one of my days: the keys were not on the hook; there was a stain on my sweater; a short phone call further delayed my efforts to get out the door (the phone was still on the wall then). I hopped in the car, ready to roar down the through street, only to have a little old man in front of me drive at 20 mph and brake for every intersection. I was antsy. I was not happy. Then I came to the main highway. An accident had happened five to ten minutes before — an accident that could have included me, had I been on time. Suddenly, my antsy, unhappy heart turned into a grateful one, thankful for God’s safekeeping. Now I am grateful if I get delayed. It gives me time to pray and be thankful, knowing God knows what’s best for me. It’s His timetable, not mine.
When I think of blessings in disguise, I think of little incidents. I have not had the heartbreak of being betrayed by my family like Joseph was, yet, we all have had many blessings in disguise. They may or may not be as dramatic as Joseph’s, but, if you’re like me, I’m not sure the blessings are always seen or appreciated.
One I immediately appreciated was the time we were invited to go on vacation with friends, but we couldn’t leave on Friday with them. Unhappy with our schedule, we planned to leave on Sunday. On Saturday morning, the line to the refrigerator’s water dispenser decided to break — somewhere. My husband tried shutting off the water to the fridge and then shutting off the fridge, to no avail. The only solution was shutting off the water to the house. We had work to do before we could leave, but we didn’t return to a flooded house. God is good.
What blessings did God disguise for you? Big or small, His hand is always there to bless us, to protect us, to lift us up, to carry us. Share your story. Read on in this issue to see how others have used their blessings — some disguised, some not — for His work in His kingdom.
However blessings are disguised, God means them for good!
Sheila Lutz, Editor-in-Chief
Select Articles Available as Free Downloads
FEATURES
10 | Precious in His Sight
| Lutheran Women in Mission Sunday 2026
IN EVERY ISSUE
| Editor's note
1 | Praying the Psalms
6 | Reach One: The Shut-In
14 | Grants @ Work: Opportunity … Through a Child’s Eyes
16 | 2025–2027 Mission Grants and Summaries
17 | Shop LWML
29 | President’s Page
BIBLE STUDIES
available to download and print
18 | How Long Lord? — Study Guide PDF
| How Long Lord? — Leader Guide PDF
19 | ¿Cuánto Tiempo, Señor? — Estudio Bíblico PDF
| ¿Cuánto Tiempo, Señor? — Notas del líder PDF
20 | Blessings in Disguise from “The Least of These” — Leader Guide PDF
22 | God’s Heart-Changing “No” — Leader Guide PDF
Future Quarterly Themes
Share your story with us at editor@lwml.org
Winter 2026 (Submit by July 1, 2026)
GLORIA!
My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! (Psalm 108:1).
What does music mean in your worship? How is it good for your whole being? How does singing bring joy for those who aren’t singers? What does glorifying God “with all the saints and angels” mean to you? How do you glorify God at Christmas — or during other seasons of life?
Spring 2027 (Submit by October 1, 2026)
BEING TRANSFORMED
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).
Ponder the hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be.” How has God consecrated you — moved you — given power to your voice and hands and feet — molded your will to His will — manifested His gifts of giving and loving in you? How has God transformed you life — your entire being— from the inside out?
