Jesus is the Author of All My "Coincidences"

Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.
Albert Einstein

It happened that two winters ago I was in attendance at a professional development opportunity in my neighborhood. At the conclusion of the session my colleagues, unfamiliar with the surroundings, required support in finding their way to the train station. It happened that on the way to the train station we came by way of my home, which I pointed out to them, which in turn created the perfect opening for one of my colleagues to ask, "How did you find your apartment?" 

I paused and thought about how to relay the series of events that led me to the place I now cheerfully call home. I told her that one day while on vacation in Jamaica I received a phone call, notifying me of the unfortunate demise of my former residence due to fire. And how, on that day, my best friend hearing of this tragedy, offered me the keys to her family's home in New Jersey, which happened to be within 15 minutes of my office. I told her that I was forced to move from my friend's home, and that in the shock of it all had confided my pain and confusion to a friend from graduate school, who happened to tell another friend, who called me and invited me to live with him while I looked for a place to live. And that it happened that, after looking all over the 5 boroughs, I found an apartment better than the one now dust, less than a minute away from my kind friend's home.

At the conclusion, she said, "I guess you're really lucky." I replied, "No. My God is really faithful." Every happenstance worked in my favor. And in the end, even the retelling of these series of "coincidences" brought opportunity to bring glory to God, because they weren't coincidences at all, but the loving, timely and attentive intervention of my heavenly Father. It was my Good Father honoring His promise to never leave nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5). It was my Good Father watching over to perform His promise to supply all my needs under the guise of perfectly positioned "coincidences". (Philippians 4:19). But, the eyes of faith cannot help but see that God authored them all.

The book of Ruth is probably the only other piece of writing that uses the phrase "And it happened" more frequently than this week's devotional. And just as it was in my personal experience of God's providential care, nothing is "just happening" to Ruth or any of the persons that populate her story. Instead, God is at work in the most remarkable way to provide for the needs of His children.  Read this very short book of the Bible and see if you can trace God's hand through all the circumstances, then try it on your own life story!  You can read a chapter a day- for a total of 4 chapters- and then take some time this week to reflect on the last year of your life:

1. What were the highlights? What were the moments that really pushed along the plot of your life?
2. Where were the perfectly timed "coincidences"? Can you see evidence of God's providential hand in your life?
3. How do your findings encourage you today and or give you hope for tomorrow?​

Enjoy this song, as you trace His hand, by Jonathan McReynolds:

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Go Deeper

As Be-Held Women we believe that true self-care is accomplished in a lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus Christ. We take care by drawing near to God: seeking and living the truth of God’s Word, by the power of His Spirit dwelling within us, confident that in living the truth by Holy Spirit reliance we will be transformed into women who so clearly bear the image of Jesus Christ in spirit, soul and body that we will come to bless many.  Dear Be-Held Woman, seeking, living and being transformed by the truth, we offer you this Bible study guide to support you in your endeavors! Apply it to this week's Scripture reading.

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