For Such a Time as This

Have you ever experienced a "coincidence" that was just too big to consider plain old luck? I really don't believe in coincidence. I like to call them "God-incidences." God does so much work behind the scenes that He rarely gets credit for what we usually call coincidences. But He is at work, whether we realize it or not.

We need to train ourselves to be more aware of God working in and around us. It takes practice, but it is so worth it when we begin to see how God orchestrates circumstances large and small.

I am not saying that God controls human beings, because I don't believe that. God gave us free will so that we can make our choices. So I don't believe that God manipulates people. But I do believe that he manipulates circumstances.

For example:

I am currently studying the book of Romans with a group at church. And because my daily schedule is a bit unpredictable (read: my child gets up too early for me to always catch some quiet time first thing in the morning), I try to catch up on my readings whenever I have the chance. One such chance was while I was waiting at the chiropractor's office last week.

I had my Bible out when I was called back, and my chiropractor asked what I was reading. He's a Christian and knows that Hubby and I are Christians and that we are active in ministry. We got to talking and amazingly the conversation turned to the exact topic that I had just been reading about in Romans. The exact topic.

I was able to share with him what I had read just a few minutes before. It was an amazing God-incidence! Had I been "caught up" in my readings and not taken my Bible with me, would I have remembered the Scripture reference and been able to share and encourage him? I doubt it.

You never know how God will show up in the circumstances of your life and of the lives around you. Just like Esther never would have guessed that she would be a queen and would be able to save her people from destruction in a foreign land. For such a time as this (Esther 4:14). Who knows? God does!