Updated on February 26, 2011
God’s Little Message
God’s Little Message
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t send miraculous signs and messages to remind us of his love? I wondered that myself in the past. I rationalized the apparent silence to mean that there were more important things to attend to, or that maybe I wasn’t good enough.
Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. God is always there in the good times and the bad, waiting to provide comfort in the way you need it most. I know from firsthand experience. Let me explain.
A few years ago I was at a low point in my life. I was suffering from the big “Ds”: Depression, Debt, and Divorce.
My world, that had seemed so perfect, had turned upside down. Probably out of habit, I continued attending Church. Although, I often asked myself why.
One particular Sunday morning, I was on my way home from church. The events of the last several years bombarded my thoughts. One phrase stood out from the rest, “You are a failure!”
I may have muttered a prayer, I don’t know for sure. My emotions had taken over and I was not thinking clearly. I was fighting back tears as the negative thoughts continued their rampage.
I came to an intersection and waited for the light to change. It was a large intersection over a freeway. Normally, I would go straight to get home. For some strange reason, I decided to take the service road. I turned and found myself stopped behind an old pickup truck at the next light. In the back window was a homemade sign that read,
“No Man Is A Failure Who Loves Jesus!”
I couldn’t stop staring at that sign. And then, I just started laughing and thanking God for His little message.
When I got home, my mind tried to rationalize it, “A human painted the sign, it was just a coincidence that you saw it.” But I wasn’t buying that nonsense. God had inspired that person to create that sign. He had this person arrive at the exact intersection and at the exact moment that I needed to see this particular message. With God, there are no coincidences.
I doubt that person ever knew what impact his sign had on my life. And I wonder if it was created exclusively for my benefit. I’ll probably never know in this life. But what I do know is this, at the moment I needed God’s loving attention, I received it. And I thank Him for it!
The next time things aren’t going so well, don’t be surprised if God gives you a little “sign”. He loves and cares for everyone, even you.
Originally published October 2000.
