God works in amazing ways. I see His goodness every day, yet it still amazes me every time I witness it.
A few weeks ago when my college just started back for the semester, the chapel at my school held a work-day service on Monday. I was in attendance, and the minister speaking asked for volunteers—eight women and seven men.
At first, I thought to myself, “No, Ann, you don’t need to go up there. You volunteer for everything. Let someone else do it.”
Well, the minute I thought that I felt the Holy Spirit move in me. It said to me, “Ann, you need to go up there,” so I did.
Once the volunteers and myself made it to the front of the chapel, we were handed white envelopes. After everyone received an envelope, the minister asked us to open them and read what was inside. The first thing I saw when I opened it up was a $100 bill, and behind it was a small, white slip of paper. I pulled out the paper and it read:
Friend, we hope that this money empowers you to sense the Holy Spirit and respond to Jesus’ call to serve. Service has changed us, and we know it will change you!
I immediately tried to think of ways I could possibly serve someone. I had a few ideas here and there, but eventually I decided on a nearby town that really needed help. Sure enough, a young man who volunteered was standing next me and had the same thought.
He and I tried to collaborate after the chapel service throughout the following weeks, but I felt like he wasn’t letting me do my part in the planning. He would tell people it was his idea, and I felt left out. Even worse, I felt hurt. It hurt because I thought he wasn’t giving me the recognition I deserved.
I kept asking God why my friend wasn’t letting me help. Was He trying to teach me humility? Maybe.
A couple weeks after this incident, I made plans to meet up with two missionaries from my church and speak with them. Before I met with them, I had a feeling that I was supposed to give them that $100. I thought that was odd because I didn’t even know what they wanted to talk about, so I put the thought in the back of my mind and headed their way.
I met them at a locally-owned coffee shop and caught up with them before getting down to business. They began to tell me about Cru, the Christian organization that they volunteer with. Cru started out as a ministry for university students, and then grew to reach out in different places, like other countries and areas of life such as marriage.
As they were explaining to me what they did, I thought they were asking me to volunteer my time with them. Although volunteering to work for the Lord is a wonderful thing, I didn’t know if I would be able to manage it with 15-20 hours of work every week and 18 credit hours on my plate.
The conversation finally led up to why they had met with me: They needed my help, and by help, I mean money.
The missionaries explained to me that they are taking a job with Cru, but they are not getting paid through this job. They are needing to reach their destination, and they need financial support to get there.
One of the missionaries told me that when they were praying for God to lay people on their hearts, my name came up. They were hesitant at first because they know I am a college student, but they went ahead and met with me anyway.
In that very moment, I felt the Holy Spirit pull on my heart, telling me, “Ann, this money is for them. This is where you are called to give.”
I immediately told them everything that happened. I talked about the chapel service, the confusion and hurt from my situation with my friend, and how I felt led to give them the money before I even met with them.
Happy tears fell from one of the missionaries faces when I explained all of that. The moment was overwhelmingly joyful because it was such a God thing.
We continued to talk about amazing instances we both experienced with God, and then we headed our separate ways. I couldn’t stop crying on my way back to my dorm because God is so, so good.
God did teach me humility in that experience. I discovered that I was wanting to help with the town project for selfish reasons, and God had a different plan for me.
What I took away from this experience is that the Holy Spirit can and WILL guide you, and that all good things come to those who love the Lord and follow His calling for them.
