An unexpected result of looking for opportunities for God to use me 

Sometimes, listening to Baba (God) can be exciting and delightful. By listening, I mean hearing and following through on what He places on your heart. At other times, it takes you down a path that may surprise or even shock you. It may lead you to do something you never imagined you would see yourself doing; something that may cause you to question yourself and perhaps even question Him. Did You really say this? This was one such time.

This was about eight or nine years ago. It was a school night and I was on my way home from work. It was early evening when I got off the train at my stop. I went through the subway and emerged on the other side, as usual, ready to start my short walk home. My evening took an unexpected turn then. There on the steps of the subway, on the other side, was a child sitting alone. Some people would walk past, pausing to look as they went. Others stopped and looked around for an accompanying adult, clearly disconcerted by what they were seeing and not sure what to do about it. They would eventually move on.

I got to the child and stopped. I too was unsure of what to do. I too lingered and looked around for a parent, a police officer, a security guard, anyone who would know what to do. See, the child was about 2 years old by my best guess, give or take, and could not talk yet. Talking to them and asking questions would not give me any answers. It was getting dark and I couldn’t hang around for long. I also could not, in good conscience, leave the child there. My phone battery was dying at this point. Phoning someone for help wasn’t an option. I didn’t know what to do. I just remember feeling deep concern for the child’s wellbeing and safety. At that moment, I decided to walk the child home with me. 

In my mind, I figured I might run into one of the police or security cars that sometimes patrolled the neighbourhood along the way and ask for help. That failing, I would get home and charge my phone then call someone. Either way, it would also give me a chance to figure out what to do whilst looking out for the child at the same time. By this point in time, it was abundantly clear that the child was unaccompanied. As I started to walk, my heart was pounding. I imagined the “child police” jumping at me out of nowhere and charging me with abduction. No one did. “Am I really doing this?” I asked myself. The questions and thoughts in my head were numerous. I was scared yet I felt confident that I was doing the right thing. 

A quiet inner voice reassured me that this course of action was the safest at that moment. That I was a safe bet for the child given the circumstances. Still, I asked myself, “What do I do next? I have work tomorrow. What if I have to look out for the child past tonight? What do I feed and clothe the child? Why am I even thinking about feeding and clothing the child?” It dawned on me that I didn’t know who to even call for help or how long they’d take to respond? Where would they take the child? What would the process be like? What would my involvement in the process be? I was already invested so I knew I wanted to be involved until it was resolved.

Then I thought, “What if someone is back at the train station and frantically looking for the child? Perhaps I should have stayed put at the station” On and on these thoughts went as I walked home with this child. Yet I felt I could trust God and that He was in control of the situation. I prayed and trusted that He had a plan. I walked very slowly, trying to match the child’s walking pace. I decided to carry the child at some point. Eventually, we got home. I was still scared and oddly calm at the same time. The child seemed calm, comfortable, and very trusting. At some point during my many prayers that evening, I felt like God was telling me to return to the train station before calling any authorities. It couldn’t have been long after we got home.

So I made the way back, again, questioning my actions and praying profusely. “See, perhaps I should have stayed at the station after all,” I thought. Then immediately thought it would be secluded and probably unsafe to hang around there by now. When I arrived at the station, the first person I noticed was a lady in a car. She saw me with the child, parked her car, and we got to talking. It turned out that she was from a church where the mother of this child went to. The mother was going through a desperate situation. The lady in the car was helping and mentoring her in her time of need. On this particular evening, she felt her desperation would endanger her child so she reached out to the lady in the car for help.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the lady in the car got stuck on the way to the station. Meanwhile, the mother felt that she had to flee her child for the child’s safety. The result was that the child was alone at a train station for some time. Whilst many things could be said about this situation, what stood out for me was how God moved in and directed the situation. He watched over that child affectionately and diligently as is His nature. Firstly, I love kids. I have a big heart for them. It’s in my nature to want to nurture and protect a child. That’s why I said earlier that I was a “safe bet” for the child.  I don’t think it was a coincidence that I met that child that day, at that time. I think it was part of God’s provision for the child.

I believe that God moved me to go out of my way to protect the child. I acted in a way that seemed odd even to me at the time. I think my actions were a reflection of and inspired by God’s heart for the child and perhaps for everyone involved. The lady in the car was distraught after getting stuck and not being able to reach a helpless child as quickly as she’d intended. She prayed for the child’s safety and future which suddenly seemed to be hanging in the balance that evening. Where would the child wind up if she didn’t arrive in good time? I believe God heard and answered her prayers. He made a way for that child to be safe, protected, and right where they needed to be at just the right time. It was also a lesson for me. 

If I allow Him, God involves me and lets me play a role in His plan. It’s not always exciting or fun. It may be scary or odd. It may test me. However, God knows my strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities. Above all, He has a plan for me and for others. If I trust Him and stay receptive, He can use me for the good that He is doing such as protecting and watching over a child in need. By choosing to respond to what I believed God was leading me to do, I got to see God’s goodness and provision in action first-hand: for the lady in the car, the child, and perhaps even the child’s mother. This experience surprised and blessed me. God is good even when life gets messy. I hope hearing this story blesses you too.

Love,