Coincidentally enough, my wife and I are both dealing with work-related health issues, things that are presently keeping us from doing our jobs. This challenging situation does cause credible stress and a few shed tears, but as believers in Jesus, we know that God has us firmly in his hands and has a plan even when we don’t see it.

This verse from Jermiah has always been our go-to source of comfort when life flips topsy-turvy: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

Lately, however, we have both felt a trite lack of hope despite those comforting words in Jeremiah. Last evening was no exception, and, as we hugged each other encouragingly, we admittedly felt a bit sorry for ourselves too. That was until God hit us with a WHAM, GODWINK moment—a sort of heavenly slap in the face that pulled us both in a different yet purposeful direction.

“There’s someone sitting on our front lawn,” announced my wife Diane after randomly looking out the front window of our house, “by the sidewalk.”

“Like a child, or an adult?” I asked curiously.

“An adult,” she replied, “a woman. I can see her shoulders moving up and down. She’s crying.”

I opened our front door just as a pickup truck pulled alongside her, and two people got out—a man and a teenage boy, her husband and son, as we later discovered. Going outside to investigate, followed by my wife right on my heels, the sobbing lady was clearly in some sort of distress. Diane, being the hug monster that she is, bent to her knees to offer help and a hug of support.

The woman kept repeating through tears, “I’ve had a really bad day. I’m sorry that I’m on your lawn. I’ve had such a bad day.”

“It’s okay,” answered Diane. “You have nothing to apologize for. We need to know if you are, okay?

The dear soul said again, “I’m just having a really bad day. I don’t know if I should even be around anymore. I think my marriage is over, and my son hates me.”

My wife assured her that she was loved and valued, that as long as she had breath in her lungs, she had purpose, especially with her family standing right in front of her. Her son stepped in to offer his own hug. “I don’t hate you, mom.” He then looked at Diane with a pained expression on his face. “I said some things that I shouldn’t have said.”

With tears rolling down her cheeks, the woman told Diane, “You’re an angel; you are my angel. You’re both good people.” Then she said, “Your kids are lucky to have you. Can I please be your kid?”

Following several more minutes of consoling, we told her that we’d be praying for her and her husband and son. She glanced toward our house. “Can I come visit for coffee when I’m better, and I don’t even drink coffee?” she laughed.

“Of course,” I replied. “All of you are welcome to come by if you need to talk. We’ll be here.”

“You’re my angel,” she said again to my wife while wiping tears away. “An angel.”

***

When Diane and I went back into our house, we could not believe what had just taken place—a situation that came out of nowhere and one that had never happened before. We firmly believe that God orchestrated the placement of that broken-hearted soul on our front lawn for a reason, at just the right time, for both her benefit and ours. This woman desperately needed unconditional, non-judgemental love, and God needed to remind us that despite our messy circumstances or fears over tomorrow, He is ALWAYS at work, He is ALWAYS PRESENT in every situation, and He is ALWAYS PLANNING for our good through any dark valleys that we are facing right now or in the future.

My friend, God loves you, and whatever it is that you might be going through, He will never leave you nor forsake you. TRUST HIM. HE’S GOT YOU, ALWAYS.

I’ll leave you with this Bible verse. Psalm 46:1 says this: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (NIV)

Paul Smyth