Wrapping presents for many families is part of the holiday fun, along with decorating trees, cooking, and shopping. It's a time of cheer that gives us a hint of what life will be without the troubles that make it so difficult.

A part of this seasonal spirit is the idea of wrapping presents. To some, it is just a waste of time; they simply hand their gifts to someone unwrapped. The idea behind wrapping a present is to conceal the contents until the right time. When the right moment comes, there is an outburst of joy we share when we discover what has been hidden behind the beautiful paper.

Did you know that God conceals a few things from us for the same reason? He doesn't tell us what's in his bag of goodies for us in the future. It's as if he intentionally hides a few things until the right time. In fact, 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known? It's as if all of life is a great present given to us by God that we unwrap one by one each day.

Just as each gift we receive was picked out and wrapped ahead of time, God has a few goodies for us too that he plans to give us when the time is right. Some we have already received; there are still many to go.