Coincidence? I Think Not!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” – Psalm 37:23

Over the weekend my pastor preached an awesome message called, “What Are the Chances?” No, not like the probability you’ll hit the Powerball lottery. But more along the lines that Jesus is in the least expected places.

What are the chances Jesus is actually in the conflicts, common acts, and coincidences we experience?

As he closed the message I realized how much I overlook mundane tasks and mislabel God’s actions as coincidences. When I really should be viewing situations I encounter as God ordering my steps.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty comforting knowing my steps are ordered. It’s just sometimes those steps appear pointless. A lot of times I find myself questioning is anything even happening in my life. Leaving me to wonder am I really stranded at sea, trying to swim to the shore of a deserted island.

It would just be nice for God to use some sort of spectacular navigation system. Well I guess He does, it’s called faith (Although, I’d really prefer fireworks in the shape of an arrow that point me in the right direction). Is that too hard? Better yet, can He come down from Heaven, hold my hand, and lead me where I should go? Wishful thinking.

Instead, He’s guiding me in what I would label mundane, day-to-day actions.

But then one of my best friends sent a text confirming those mundane, day-to-day actions actually build a bigger picture. The text read,

“What are the chances we’d all go to our old church?

What are the chances we’d live minutes from each other?

What are the chances we’d get pregnant at the same time and our kids would go to the same daycare?

What are the chances we’d become best friends more like family?

What are the chances you’d open up about your struggles and we’d both be going through the same thing?

Those are no coincidences – nothing but God!”  

But looking back I’m grateful for the mundane tasks in my life. All of those things I thought didn’t matter were actually pieces waiting to get placed together so the puzzle could be completed.

Prime example, never did I think sending a friendly email to Gerard before starting college would blossom into marriage. Yet God did. It was that one simple act that forever changed my life.

So as you tackle this week, I encourage you to go into it with a new perspective. Going forward think of your life as a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. There will be some pieces you’ll recognize their place in the puzzle. Others not so much. But remember all of them serve a purpose and God created the bigger picture. You just have to let Him direct your path.