the unpredictable path of obedience

Among the many powerful moments that occurred on my Spring Break trip, one encounter with a stranger stands out as a lesson straight from God.

It was right after our first club {gathering with skits, games, worship and a message} and my roommate was sick so i headed up to our room to check on her. i stepped into the elevator, Bible in hand, and the only man accompanying me asked what i had in my hand. He clearly knew what it was, but when he first saw and realized i shared his beliefs he had to ask– as a lead-in to the topic that was elatedly overflowing from his heart. He proceeded to tell me about how, long story short, that day he had told part of his testimony to someone who, in turn, accepted Jesus. i was delighted to share in his joy and as i left the elevator we introduced ourselves and i told him, Josh, that i would pray for this new believer's future.

Sweet story, but God wasn't through with Josh in my life yet. So every morning all 300 of us UT students met up in the hotel ballroom and then split into our set groups of about 10 people to have a time to discuss what we were learning and experiencing. We were impossible to avoid, spread throughout the hotel and on the beach as well. During our discussion, i felt a tap on the shoulder and turned around to see Josh standing there. He apologized for interrupting but asked if he could talk to me. We stepped away and started talking about the importance of obeying when we feel the Lord calling us to action. He wasn't sure how he would possibly see me again but something told him he would. He told me that his wife had been trying to start a Bible study back at home– that it was hard and that she hadn't had luck with the people she was contacting and that she was discouraged. He said she was a wonderful woman of God and he believed she was capable of leading but that for some reason he thought God wanted to use me to encourage her. It still takes my breath away to even type that out. 

He handed me a note with my name on it and his wife, Brittany's contact information. i took it and expressed how honored i was to possibly be used by God to help a stranger establish a community in a state i didn't even live in. i went back to my circle and later as he carried his last bag out to his car to leave, he laid a beautiful pink flower on my Bible. My group was thrilled to hear such a random story the Lord was orchestrating. Not long after this, he showed up again saying he wrote down the wrong email address! He told his wife he had to turn the car around and come back to the hotel,
and i ended up getting to meet Brittany and their baby as well.

This family blessed me in ways they didn't even know. My mind told me to be cautious because of common knowledge about interacting with strangers, but my heart told me to trust God and follow the steps He was laying before me, steps to have faith and obey. After meeting Brittany i couldn't understand how i would be of any help to her. But then i reminded myself it wasn't me or my wisdom that would be spoken. What a relief! If anything, it is the Spirit in me. A friend pointed me to read Job and what this book is teaching me blows my mind. In it a young man approaches Job {a "blameless and upright" man who had been given much and then had everything stripped painfully away}, to give him counsel after Job's friends cannot honestly comfort him.

"i am young in years, and you are old; that is why i was fearful, not daring to tell you what i know. i thought 'age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.' But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right." - Job 32:6-9

So now i get the privilege of praying for this family and hopefully seeing what happens. i know God's timing is perfect, because when i went to find my sick roommate, i passed the place where she was and mindlessly got in that elevator. Then the elevator took us to the wrong floor, which allowed Josh time to tell his story. He then found me among all 300 kids as he left his vacation. None of this is a coincidence! We were created by a God who also created solar systems and DNA. From the most infinite to the most intricate things that have ever existed. So to believe that He doesn't put people in our lives for a reason is like believing that gravity doesn't exist. We can pretend to float around, but we can't avoid God's ultimate and beautifully woven plan for our lives.