Can Strangers be God-sent?

Sometimes encounters with certain people—even strangers—can leave you wondering if God was reaching out to you through them.

Have you ever had an encounter so intriguing, so profound, that the message or lesson stays with you for years to come? I have.

While working at my previous job several years ago, I got to talking to an older gentleman during a phone interview. As was often the case, those interviews would deviate from work to more personal subjects after business was over.

The Revelation

We started talking about things that we wanted in our lives. I confessed to him that I was missing something in my life, but no matter how concentrated or pragmatic I was in my approach, I still couldn’t attain it. “Well,” he said gently, “have you asked God for it?” Um, no. I hadn’t. I hadn’t even thought to ask God, and I told him so. I didn’t want to bother God with my silly desires. Weren’t there more important things to pray for?

The simplistic wisdom in his response shocked me: “How in the world do you expect to get something if you don’t ask for God’s help?”

It hit me like a ton of bricks. It probably wouldn’t have caused an epiphany of any sort in others, but for me, at that point, it did. How could I have consistently missed the most important ingredient in the recipe for success? I’ll never forget that line, and it often comes to me when I start thinking that I’m tough enough to handle something on my own, or that I’ll just take something on without asking for help.

Apparently somewhere along the way, even amidst my Catholic schooling and upbringing, I had forgotten that God wants us to come to Him and cling to Him with childlike trust. And maybe it was time I was reminded of that. What a wonderful, simple lesson from that man, or maybe, directly from God…

“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” –Matthew 21:22

“…unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 18:3

**********                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Photo credit: graur codrin

About the Author

Lindsey Simmons

Lindsey Simmons is the publicity, social and digital media manager at Franciscan Media. An animal lover, she shares her home with her rescue cat and dog. She’s a member of St. Gertrude Parish in Madeira, OH, where she’s served on the Stewardship Committee and with the young adult group.