Coincidences?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:8

In the Christian life we believe the Lord is directing our steps (Proverbs 20:24 & Jeremiah 10:23). What the unbeliever sees as coincidences in life, the believer with eyes wide open sees as the Lord’s direction and blessings.

With respect to Albert Einstein I think he got the following quote wrong. I do not believe God does anything to remain anonymous:

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." —-Albert Einstein

God made the very world around us to get our attention, as well as blessing us daily to show His goodness.

Recently I was downtown and decided I would go to the music store and get some guitar picks. Once I arrived there I found the store closed. Disappointed, I went to fill up the car with gasolene. As I got to the pump and stepped out, at the foot of the pump lay a guitar pick. Now I have lived fifty-eight years on this earth and never in my life have I found a guitar pick laying at the foot of a gas pump.

Years ago while out camping I decided to walk the forest paths and look for flint arrowheads used by the historic Native Americans. I spent a long while walking those paths and had no luck. Going back to my tent I leaned down upon one knee to unzip the tent flap and a stone turned up under my knee. To my shock and surprise it was a flint arrowhead.

I could go on with many such “coincidences” in my life, such as when I was dying of Crohn’s Disease in the year 2010 and was stricken with arthritis. I visited my doctor with my sore arm and leg joints and swollen fingers and he began setting me up with a specialist. I remember praying to the Lord, reminding Him that He promised not to let more come our way than we could endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). And I said to Him that arthritis on top of my already overwhelming Crohn’s Disease and other afflictions was indeed more than I could bear. Before I was able to set up the appointment with the arthritis specialist my arthritis was gone.

I don’t believe in coincidences. I do believe in God. When blessings come our way, when we are healed, or given the power from God to endure the unendurable, we know there is Someone at the helm of our life. Jesus is there guiding, leading, strengthening, and blessing us.

This world and our arrival in it are not coincidences. Our Maker reveals Himself to us not only in the created world around us, but in a myriad of ways. God blesses us in both small and large ways as we walk through this life on our homeward bound journey toward God.

It is easy to get bogged down in the problems of life, and begin to forget our blessings. Just recently I had a very good day and asked the Lord to help me remember that good day for I knew there would be bad days ahead. You too will have good days and bad days, hard times and blessings unlooked for. The important thing to remember is that God is the Author of all of our days and all of our blessings. Thank Him today for the blessings Jesus brings into your life. And stay on the lookout for “coincidences”.

Dear Lord, it will take an eternity to thank You for the multitude of blessings You have given to us in all shapes and sizes, and the many blessings we didn't even notice. Open our eyes to things that are Not Coincidences. We thank You and praise You Lord for blessings beyond counting. Amen.