Divine Appointment

It was just a quick stop in a store to look for an item I could not find in the store near me.
I was not familiar with the layout of this store.
I was walking around looking up at the department signs.
Pushing a shopping cart and looking up at the signs do not mix.

All of a sudden I was brought back to reality.
Can you help me with something?
A woman was standing in front of me holding two shirts, one in each hand.
Can you tell me which shirt would look better for a funeral? She asked me sincerely.

One shirt was white and the other was black with a pattern running throughout.
It was the black patterned shirt that was most appropriate for a funeral.
I think the black patterned one would be best, I said looking right into her eyes.
I get very hot, she said, and this black one seems like it would be cooler.

I think it is very pretty, I said.
I am sorry for your loss, I added.
It was my father, she said, he died yesterday.
He died peacefully in his sleep, she continued as her eyes grew moist.

That is very hard, I said looking into her eyes again.
I lost my mom ten years ago but I didn’t do too good then, she said.
It is hard to lose your mom; I know, I said, understanding that same loss all too well.
But this was different, she said seeming to want to tell me more.

I waited a minute to give her a chance to speak.
Losing someone we love is very hard, I said after a long pause.
I do not know how people get through that time of grief without the Lord, I added.
There it was: the Lord Jesus was brought into the conversation.

I go to church and when my dad died, one of the pastors called me, she informed me.
We were driving in the car and the pastor prayed with me on the phone, she said.
That is such a blessing, I said delighted that this woman had the support of a church family.
He prayed with me over the phone, right in the car, she said again, remembering.

I didn’t do too good when my mother died, she said again.
You know what I turned to then? She asked without really waiting for an answer.
I turned to drugs; It was really a bad time, she recounted as if she had to tell someone.
But I’ve been clean for eight years now, she said victoriously.

The Lord got a hold of me and I never went back to those old ways, she said proudly.
Amen! I am very proud of you, I said, meaning every word.
The Lord made all the difference; He set you free, I reminded her.
He set me free, she repeated.

There were so many questions that did not need answers.
There were questions that did not even have to be asked.
God ordained this meeting.
For a brief moment in time, two strangers met and talked because of Him.

The woman was still holding the black patterned shirt in her hand.
I have to wear this to my father’s funeral tomorrow, she said quietly.
You do, but this time the Lord is with you, I reminded her.
You are not alone, I said as I put my hand on her arm.

Then the argument began.
The argument I had with the Lord in my head and in my heart.
He was prompting me to pray with this woman and I was fighting Him.
I was being stubborn with all my pitiful excuses as to why I couldn’t possibly pray with her.

I don’t know this woman.
I will never see her again.
What will she think if I ask her if I can pray with her?
What if she says, No?

Guess who won the argument?
I heard the words come out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.
I put my hand on her arm and we prayed.
We prayed right there with our shopping carts facing each other.

…In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Amen, she agreed.
Thank you for helping me with the shirt and...her voice stopped.
You’re welcome. Remember, you’re not alone, I reminded her.

For the next few minutes, my smile went from ear to ear.
Isn’t that just like God?
In His sovereignty, He ordains these holy moments.
Holy moments with shopping carts, and shirt decisions, and funerals.

We make our plans but we better write them in pencil.
God’s plan always goes forth.
His plan often interferes with our plans but in reality, His plans are so much better.
God’s plans have eternal purposes; what a privilege it is to be included in them.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

There is no better time than right now to pray for someone or to pray with someone.
Even if you argue with God in your head and in your heart, His plan will always go forth.
God determines those divine appointments, randomly and perfectly.
What a privilege it is to be a part of something so holy and sacred at any given moment.

Be ready.
You never know when God will put a divine appointment right in your path.

2 responses to “Divine Appointment”

1. This was exactly what I needed to read/hear today…thank you my friend! For being obedient to the Lord in so many areas of your life!

   Reply

   • Diane,
     Isn’t it amazing the way God’s plans go forth? He knows exactly the time, the place, and the circumstances of those Divine Appointments. It is an exciting privilege to be even a small part of what He is doing.
     Gina

     Reply