God's Perfect Timing

by Kay Heitsch

The following story was published in Positive Thinking Finding Joy & Fulfillment Every Day April 2002

No one can put you in the right place as well as He can.

"I don't understand, Lord! How could this be a part of Your plan for our lives?" Over and over again, these words whirled around in my mind as I drove home from work that afternoon. I couldn't believe that we were going to be moving again. "Don't you care about us, Lord?" Tears burned my eyes as they rolled down my cheeks.

Down the road, I could see a long line of traffic. "Now what? What's going on? How long am I going to be stuck here?" I sat for what seemed an eternity. I managed, through my frustration and annoyance, to calm myself down by praying. More than ever, I needed God's guidance. Eventually, the cars ahead slowly began to move. Finally, I was on my way.

Suddenly, in my rear view mirror, I saw an older woman stumble into a ditch on the side of the road and then walk out of it. Something was obviously wrong, but no one stopped to help. So I went back.

Though frightened, she came over when I called out to her. She said she was lost, that she had gone to a convenience store for a paper and had become disoriented. I offered to help her retrace her steps, so she climbed into the van, and we soon discovered that she had taken a wrong turn at a three-way street. Together, we located her daughter's apartment, where she was staying, and her invitation for coffee soon led to a long conversation about her own life and the recent events that had affected her.

Now relaxed and in familiar soundings, Mary introduced herself and told me that her husband had died recently and that she was visiting her daughter to figure out what to do next. As Mary shared her apprehensions about her future, I did the same.

When I got ready to leave, I experienced a flash of insight. God did care and understand. Look at what just happened: I was delayed in traffic, I saw a total stranger at the exact instant she tumbled into the ditch, and then I went back to help when no one else seemed to notice. As I said goodbye, I hugged Mary.

If the God of the Universe cared enough to put me where I could help her at the exact instant she needed help, then neither one of us should have any fears about the future. God would send us the support we each needed, at the perfect time, just as He had done this day.