He really does amaze me. The fact that God is alive and presently working in and through his followers is incredible to me. When we ask him to and even when we don’t he works on our behalf and on the behalf of others.
Recently upon asking God for opportunities to show his love to others he arranged a divine appointment in a drug store. The young woman checking me out had a cough that sounded like the bubonic plague. I commented on the fact that she was sick and she told me how she’d been sick for weeks now but didn’t have the money to see a Doctor. Her boyfriend moved out two weeks before leaving her with bills and rent she couldn’t pay. To top it off her baby was sick as well. I could tell she was a hard worker just from observing how she dealt with the elderly lady she had checked out before me….going the extra step to help her out to her car with the groceries and working quickly the entire time. She wasn’t looking for a handout and wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. Just stating the facts as she explained her situation to me.
I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to reach out o this women. God clearly put it on my heart to do something for her. It’s not like he spoke out loud to me or anything. But he spoke loud and clear inside my heart. After talking to her more and praying I knew I was to check on resources for her in the community, take her some lunch and give her a specific amount of money. I struggled with that last one because I was clinging tightly to what had been given to me. I didn’t want to let it go but I knew God was speaking. So I did what he told me to do but not without a much needed attitude adjustment. Danggit. I wish I could just be like “oh, okay, Lord, sure I’ll do that.” Instead we do a lot of talking and I question and over analyze and beat the thing to death before finally giving in. I’m one of his more stubborn children. Ahem.
I went home and spent time on the phone gathering information for this girl and her baby. I met her back at the drugstore parking lot on her lunch hour and relayed all I had learned about where and how she could get help at either no cost or minimal cost. I gave her some lunch I had picked up through a drive thru and gave her a card to open later.
Yeah, it was a little awkward……a total stranger….meeting in the parking lot…..her blowing smoke in my face and me choking on every puff…..but I saw her differently because Jesus gave me his eyes for her. She was uncomfortable and I was to a degree. But I knew in my heart this was of God, not me, so it was worth the “uncomfortable.” She made comments about, “I know I’m smoking and it’s not good for my baby and it costs money….” I said, “You don’t need to explain or worry about that. You have needs and we’re going to pray that God provides. I’m not sure what you believe about God but he’s real and he knows what you need.” She said, “Oh I do believe in Him and go to church but haven’t been in a long time.” I told her I’d be praying for her and we parted ways. I did pray for her the next several days and asked my bible study group to pray for her too. She texted me back and forth with new information the next day. She was clearly discouraged but I just told her we would keep praying. She never asked me for anything else and she was only appreciative for what had been given to her already. After a week we lost touch. Her phone was cut off and I didn’t go back in the store.
About three weeks later I stopped in to the drug store and wondered if I’d see her there. And sure enough I did. She came over to me after I checked out with another clerk and gave me a huge hug and said, “Thank you so much! I am doing so much better. Someone turned on my power for me. I have no idea who (it wasn’t me) And someone dropped off a huge box of formula for the baby.” She was all smiles. I said, “Do you see God in all this? We asked for him to provide and he did! From a total stranger!” She said, “Yes, yes, I do see that.”
And it just felt good standing there……two strangers hugging and recognizing God’s hand of provision. I dare say it was just as sacred as Sunday morning worship.
I long to hear his voice more. To respond with less restraint on the first call to action and to always look back and know it was the Holy Spirit who gave me eyes to see people the way he does.
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