Ordered Steps, The Journey Continues

by Cindy Hester

Meet my friend, Rose. We came across one another almost a year ago in this very same shop where she works as a sales clerk in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Our paths crossed I believe as a result of ordered steps. For the past year God has continued to bring Rose to mind, and I have prayed for her on a  regular basis.

 When I learned I was going to have the opportunity to return to her city, God immediately laid it on my heart to go see her while there. I almost didn’t grasp hold of this opportunity. My husband and I were later getting into town than we had planned, and as we ate lunch, I began to wonder if Rose still worked at the same shop. Even if she did, I questioned whether she would remember me.

We finished lunch and began walking back toward the taxis that were parked waiting to take us back to our ship. Instead of getting a taxi, Charlie proceeded toward Rose’s place of employment.  Although this is what I had planned to do, a sense of panic overtook me. I thought to myself how silly I was being. I was simply going by to say hello. Somehow I felt in my spirit there was something more to this visit, and I felt extremely inadequate. I began praying and the Lord told me not to fear because He was sending His Holy Spirit before me, and He would give me the right words to speak.

As we approached the shop door, I asked a gentleman sitting outside if he knew whether Rose still worked there. In true Jamaican fashion he said, “yeah man, she inside.” The doors and windows were open letting the Caribbean breeze blow. I entered the building to the soothing sound of Jamaican wind chimes.  I smiled because the sweet evidence of the blowing breeze and the beautiful sound it made gave me a visual picture of how the Lord can use the Holy Spirit in us to make something beautiful come from us that we cannot do in our own power.

I looked around, but at first I could not find Rose, and my heart sank. Just then, a woman with curious eyes stuck her head around a door that led to what appeared to be a small break room. The woman stared at me with caution and curiosity, then looked back at someone I could not see behind the wall. I smiled and asked if she knew Rose. Her eyes grew cautiously large and she slowly glanced again at the person I could not see. She slowly said yes and asked for my name. After one more glance toward the woman behind the wall, her eyes grew even wider as she moved toward me and, grabbing me by the hand, began leading me back to the break room.

The room was barely large enough for a table to fit, and scrunched between the table and the wall sat Rose. She looked up from her plate, and her jaw dropped. She grabbed me by the hands, looked me square in face, and with tears in her eyes she hurriedly said, “What did God send you here to tell me? I have been fasting and praying. You were the answer to my first prayer for a word from God almost a year ago, and here you are again!” If that does not humble you, I don’t know what will.

Without thinking, God began providing the scriptures and the words she needed to hear. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6. Among other things more specific to her situation, I told her that God had especially put her on my heart to pray for her throughout the year. She was precious to Him, and she has a special purpose to fulfill.

With tears streaming down her face, Rose climbed out from behind that table, ran and threw her arms around my neck. She stood there a few minutes, then brought the other sales clerk over to where we were. Rose said, “Just before you walked in, I was telling her that all we had was our God and what He could do for us. She was not sure what He could do. Now she must be.”

I almost missed that blessing. Although God had laid it on my heart to go back to see Rose as soon as I knew I was returning to Jamaica, I almost talked myself out of getting off the ship to go into port. I almost didn’t go to the shop because it was hot and humid and there were so many people. I told myself over and over Rose probably would not be there. However Rose was there, and she was seeking a word from God.

No doubt God would have sent that word to her through someone. The fact I had been praying for her almost a year, and the fact that God blew me away with His amazing goodness in meeting her need meant so, so much to me. God showed a lot of His character to me that day - His love, His provision, His mercy, and His protection. I just had to share this with you.

Take Jesus with you wherever you go and however you get there - by mission trip or cruise ship. We do not need to beat people over the head with the Bible or by trying to impress them with our spirituality. We simply need to love others. Laugh with others. Celebrate with others. Spread joy to others, and when necessary, cry with others. Share what God has done for us through living as though He has done something for us. When we fully experience His love, it cannot help but overflow from our hearts. This my friends, is what we are ultimately placed on this earth to do. 1 John 4:19 "We love because He first loved us."