I pushed play on my pod-cast (Bible Binge podcast…if you haven’t listened to it…DO THIS STAT), put in my head phones, took a deep sigh because despite the fact that I was about to run, I am by no means a runner and do not enjoy the first 1,000 steps of any run. It is totally a mind-over-matter, drag-me-kicking-and-screaming to the sidewalk kind of sitch. (Mind you, I’ve got all the kick-butt gear and cute running outfits…but let’s be real…that doesn’t make you a runner…if it did I’d have a gold in the Olympics)
I had my typical route entered into my app and set out on my dreaded journey.
I got to the end of my street, where my route typically sends me left, but I hesitated. I always go left. Every day. It’s my route, I’m familiar with every crack in the sidewalk on that route (honesty status…mainly because I’ve tripped and busted it over most of them…again not a runner).
But this day, I wanted different. I wanted to buck the system and so… I went right. Rogue. Off the grid. I turned my app off and just started running.
About 5 blocks in I looked ahead and I saw her, in the distance. She had stepped out onto the same sidewalk my feet were pounding unhappily down.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. How could she be on this sidewalk in front of me?
We locked eyes from a distance and I could see the same shock-and-awe feeling spread across her face.
I stopped when I got to her. Took my head phones out and said, “Well, Hi friend,” and gave her a big hug.
“How are you here? Why are you here?” she asked me, dumbfounded.
“I think my steps were ordered my friend,” and a big grin spread on both of our faces.
Who was she?
She was a victim of human trafficking. She was abandoned and exploited. She was a reported missing child with a whole system on the hunt for her. But she was more to me, to us, to our ministry. She was one of ours, in our family, on our hearts, forever a part of us. We, too, had been looking for her. We wanted to see her rescued. Wanted to see her restored. We just had no idea where she was.
And on the sidewalk that day she shared that she needed us. That she wanted back in, back into the life change, the restoration, the family. That she had been wanting to reach out but didn’t know how. She was ready.
“In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Tell me the Lord isn’t faithful to His word. I saw it played out in flesh-wrapped-around-form; the promise that He establishes my steps.
The run, the hesitation, the different route. Not one part of that process was a coincidence or on accident.
I had a plan that day, but His was greater. I had a route, but His would include rescue. I thought it was just another run I didn’t want to do, He saw it as a way of escape for the one and a way of romancing the other, me, as He reminded me that He indeed is hovering over and cares for every little detail of our lives.
“Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.” 1 Peter 5: 7 (MSG)
He is most careful with us. With our every step, ordering and directing them if we’ll abide in him. There is not one detail that He does not care deeply about. We can live in free abandon, no fear, no hesitation, because all the caring is being done by our Father. Leave the caring to Him, He is most careful with you.
And this step ordering comes with a guarantee, that if we let Him order our every step, our ordered steps will lead us right to the door steps of the broken. It’s just who He is.
Where is she now?
This sweet one that my steps were ordered straight to is now safe, secure and thriving in Purchased’s recovery program. God is restoring her day by day.
You guys…this stuff never gets old. Like how crazy cool is our God?
For more information about Purchased: Not for Sale, the incredible ministry I get to spend my days serving, visit www.thehubministry.com
Love hearing this!!!
Beautiful!!!!!!!