“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.”—Proverbs 16:20
Last week, I wrote about how I don’t think there are coincidences in life, but what is called a “Godincidence.” These are the moments when you say or think, What are the odds of that happening? I actually had one of those moments a few weeks ago.
One of the questions in a Bible study that I am doing asked about a time God may have asked you to do something that didn’t make much sense but you did it anyway. I really couldn’t think of anything but then God put something on my mind that happened over 12 years ago. I wrote the word Daystar next to that question. However, I wasn’t planning on sharing it with my group since it had happened so many years ago.
As I finished up my lesson, I sent a text to another lady in the group that I had seen earlier that day. Within a few minutes she replied, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in several years that knows you and she told me to ask you about something that happened to you several years ago at Daystar. What???? I literally just wrote that word for the answer to a question but wasn’t planning on sharing it. The person that knew me, was also someone I hadn’t seen in several years. I have no recollection of sharing the story with her, but obviously it left an impression on her.
While this situation happened to me over a decade ago, apparently, God wanted me to share it not just with my Bible study but with others that may be struggling with something that doesn’t make sense, but they feel prompted by God to do it. Here it goes….I will try to not get too longwinded on this.😊
Every day, I get a morning devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries. During this time in my life, my children were younger and I didn’t always get to read it first thing in the morning. Sometimes I didn’t get to it until after my children were in bed. This was one of those nights. After I read it, there was a short sentence at the bottom that said, If you live in the Dallas area and would like to see Sharon on the Joni Show tomorrow, email Daystar Studios.
I had never heard of or seen the Joni Show and had no idea where DayStar Studios was located. Plus, that day/time was a conflict for a weekly church activity, but I felt prompted to email the person about studio audience tickets. When I checked my email the next morning, I had confirmation that I would be going. I was torn because I really wanted to go to the show but also knew that I had another commitment. I prayed, Lord, I really feel like I should to go to this show so close the door if I am wrong. I called the person at church and got her voicemail. I left a message and told her to call me back if she needed me that day. I didn’t hear back from her, so I took that as God leaving the door open for me to attend.
When I pulled into the parking lot of the studio, my husband called and asked what I was doing. I told him, I feel like God wants me to be at the taping of this show. I really feel like the person I am going to see has a message for me. I really did feel like I was going to leave the show with some kind of spiritual awakening or revelation, why else would God be nudging me to be at it?
After I get checked in, my friend who was going to meet me calls to tell me she isn’t able to make it. I am already there, and not driving home, so I pull out my knitting and start to knit. There are four other older women there as well to see the show. We are the only ones. One of the ladies started to talk to me because she was also a knitter. I told her I could email her the pattern. However, she shared how she had been widowed and her husband was the one that did the computer stuff not her. She was in town from Arizona visiting her cousins and they also got the email about the show. She asked why I was there and I said, I feel like Sharon Jaynes has a message for me to hear today.
As we are walking into the studio, I asked her if she wanted to sit by me. She sat next to me and her cousins sat in another section. When the show was over, I was REALLY disappointed. It’s not that it wasn’t good, but I sure didn’t get a message from God. I thought, Well, you missed the boat on this one Lisa. I felt so strongly that God wanted me there but I didn’t get the spiritual revelation that I was expecting. When the woman next to me asked what I thought, I made a comment about something that was said during the show and then I said, just don’t ask your husband that. I immediately apologized because I remembered that she had been widowed and felt awful for saying that.
She was very gracious and told me not to worry about that because how was I supposed to remember since I didn’t know her. I said, no, I should have been more sensitive. I have been widowed and I know what it is like. I am so sorry. Of course, she was shocked when I said that, and I reassured her it had been several years and I was happily remarried.
This conversation is going on as we are walking out the studio. She then asked if I minded telling her what happened. I gave her the CliffNotes version and then she said, Lisa, you are here for me! God put you here so you could meet me. My best friend’s son (also her next door neighbor) was on that trip with you and he still struggles with the day your husband died. He doesn’t understand why he survived and your husband didn’t. He wasn’t married and didn’t have children, so why didn’t God take him instead of your husband?
I cry as I type that because I never questioned why the others who were swept into the ocean with John survived. It never dawned on me that those that did survive would feel guilty about it. She pulled out her cell phone and we called her best friend and I told her, please tell your son that he should not feel guilty that he survived. God has a plan for him. God has blessed me. I am remarried and my life is good. He should not be carrying that burden.
She gave me his phone number and asked if I could share that with him. We played phone tag a few times and then I left him a message pretty much telling him the same thing I told his mom. I hope that gave him the needed closure. Isn’t this story crazy? How can anyone say that was a coincidence? That was God orchestrated and look what I would have missed out on had I not been obedient to what I truly felt God was wanting me to do?
God let me think it was all about me to get me there and still let me think that until I was walking out the door. He revealed to me how He divinely placed me exactly where I needed to be on that day at that time and it wasn’t volunteering at my church. It was about being obedient and receiving the blessings from it.
Do you have any Godincidence stories? Has God ever asked you to do something that didn’t make sense but you did it anyway and you were blessed better than you could have imagined? Please share your stories in the comments section below. I love to see and hear how God works in other lives. He is bigger than our limited perspective.
Dear Lord,
I thank You that nothing in life happens by chance. You are in control and You know where I need to be at this day and time. Please help me to listen to Your voice to go in the direction in which You are leading me. Remove any spirit of pride or rebellion that would cause me to miss out on Your blessings by not seeking Your will for my day. Open my ears and heart to heed your direction for my life this week. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.
November Memory Verse
“Remind me each morning of your constant love, for I put my trust in you. My prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go.”—Psalm 143:8 (GNT)
Please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.