“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)
If I could add one more line to the verses above, it would be “When I stop at a stoplight, You are there.“
I was driving home one day last week, and talking to God in the car, while driving. My mind wandered off to how some of my relatives respond quickly and positively whenever I tell them good news about Jon’s progress, but when I report anything not going well, the men in the family become strangely distant and say nothing.
Jon is currently in a regressive stage in his behavior, while medicines are being adjusted. Whenever I describe the current situation to the family, the male relatives don’t respond, while female relatives are very supportive. Naturally, I seek moral support, but the men seem to think that I am looking for solutions and since they have none, they simply give no response at all.
I was venting to God about how frustrating this situation is, and as I finished my sentence, I came to a stop for a red light. Another vehicle was stopped to the right of me. My passenger window was open and the driver’s window, next to me, was also open. While waiting for the light to change, I looked to my right and the stranger in that vehicle was smiling at me. Then he waved at me and said, “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” I politely smiled back at him and agreed, even though it was a strange statement. It had been raining all day, and the sun only just recently came out.
In the past, if a stranger spoke to me at a stoplight, they’ve usually said something rude or inappropriate, but this incident was neither. I felt genuine kindness flowing from that man, as if he were sent by God to that exact stoplight, at that precise moment, to send me an uplifting message. The light turned green, then he waved and said, “Have a good day.” I returned the greeting back to him, and then we parted, as I turned left and he went straight.
I had a very unusual feeling about those few seconds spent at that stoplight. It’s very rare for strangers at a stoplight to greet someone just to say it’s a nice day. I think God sent that man at that moment for a purpose. Maybe it was to remind me to be more thankful than critical, reminding me that every day God gives us is a good day.
Those few seconds showed me that God hears and understands what I’m feeling. He has many ways of showing us, but sometimes He shows us through total strangers. He sends people to comfort, encourage or correct us when we need it, but most of all, He sends people to remind us that whatever storms we are going through, the sun will come out again. Sometimes He sends a person to us, just to confirm that God has always been with us in the midst of the storm.
He uses others to comfort us when we feel alone and misunderstood, and He also uses us to bring a word or a smile of comfort to someone else who is struggling in a similar way.
On that day, when I was lamenting over my frustrations, God sent a sign that He heard me, and that His presence is always there. He used a total stranger to lift my spirit through a smile and a few kind words, all within seconds at a stop light.
Where could we ever go without God’s presence? He is always with us, watching and listening to us.
Lord, we are never alone and always heard, and we thank you for the many mysterious ways you comfort and lift our hearts, by sending others to us at special moments. Amen
