A Divine appointment with a stranger.

Have you ever encountered someone with whom you immediately felt a connection? As you looked into their eyes, it was as if you already knew them, yet you were at a loss for words. In that moment, the words flowed from you, and you knew this was a divine appointment from God.

This has happened to me multiple times in my life. I have friends now with whom I am confident God directed the moment we met. In time, I realized why we met. It is so profound to me when this happens. I often didn’t have much to say, but I felt a feeling of closeness.

There have been times when I have met people I never saw again in person, but they have remained in my heart, and as I think of them, I feel the same way I felt when we first met. I begin to pray for them and wonder what happened to them — what they may be doing, and how they are doing.

I remember once we were traveling to a meeting. My daughter was in the back seat as she was homeschooled and traveled with us to over 18 states before she was 18. While approaching a traffic light, a man was standing on the side of the road. Our daughter asked if we were going to buy this man a meal. As we pull into a truck stop, he walks up, and we approach him, offering to purchase a meal, his statement next surprised us as he said, “You were not the one that offered to buy me a meal.” As we smiled back at him, we knew what we needed to do. As I watched my husband talk to him, offering to pay for him a shower and gathering the things he needed, my heart was overwhelmed with Gods love.

We find out his name is Joseph. Joseph had been walking in the heat for days. He was tired. My daughter and I looked through t-shirts, hats, and whatever we thought Joseph could use. At that moment, I saw a hat that I felt would keep the sun off his head and out of his face, so I went to the register to ask the price of it. The young lady standing behind the counter told me how much it was, and as I went to put it back, she walked over to me and said, “Ma’am, this hat is half-price today.” I knew in that second that not only was God using us to serve a stranger, but He was also using many others. I will remember sobbing at the counter as we paid for the items God had us to purchase for Joseph. As tears flowed down my cheeks, I could see and feel the love of God in that place. He broke my heart for Joseph. You see, God poured a lot of love into a lot of hearts for a stranger that day, and the memory of that day will never be forgotten.

Matthew 25:40 tells us:

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

God sent Joseph back to walking, but this time, he was fed, showered, and dressed in a hat that protected him from the sun. He also wore a T-shirt that said, “I am in God, and God is in me.”

Do you think God knows what He’s doing? I sure do! ❤

Now, let’s pause and think about this for a moment. Did we anticipate meeting Joseph when we took the exit off the interstate? Did we know what words to say to him? No, but God knew that this beautiful moment would unfold, and He knew Joseph by his name. He heard his prayers, and the joy and energy that filled us for the rest of the trip were profound. God used us to serve someone, but in all of that, He served us as well. He gave us joy and love; God’s love can’t compare with anything else.

We may never know where Joseph is or how He is doing, but what we do know is that God does! His memory comes to us often, and we are grateful for the divine intervention that brought us together.

There have been many moments like this, and I am grateful for each one.

Tell me about a time in your life when you met someone you felt this same way about or maybe a time when God gave you the words to say to a stranger.

Father, thank you for being with us everywhere we go, protecting us, and guiding our steps. Father, I pray that today, you will always help us seek to walk in your will, feel your love, and continue to share it with others. May our lanterns always remain filled and shining bright, and may we never allow the oil to run out. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my heart with you. Please also visit my website at marthagayle.com. I would love to hear from you.

Until next time, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Always Believe, John 11:40

Martha Gayle 🩵