Right Place at the Right Time

by Jackie Ricks

Often, we plan and think that things either go according to plan or get messed up. However, we fail to remember that everything is in God’s hands and He makes sure things happen for His plan. Check out Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Many times we decide we want to do something or go to a certain place, but things happen at the last minute to make those plans change. Have you ever thought about what a difference that makes in life? I had reason to think about it just last week.

One night we planned to go out to eat at a particular restaurant, but when the time came to go I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to go to a closer one. When I walked in, I saw a couple whose daughter had graduated with my son. I taught the girl as well as her husband so I knew the parents well. In the course of the conversation, I learned some disturbing news about my former students and their family situation. The mom ended up asking me to remember them all in prayer. I came away telling my husband that I felt like God had sent us to that particular place so that we would have that unspoken prayer request to add to the church list on Sunday.

However, God didn’t stop there. Two days later, I planned to go on an Amtrak trip to Dallas with several teacher friends. It was just a day trip and we had hopes of going to the Holocaust Museum before returning home the same evening. This whole trip is another story! We spent 10 hours on the train (on what should have been a 2 hour trip!). That meant that the eight of us got to do more actual visiting than we would have otherwise. While talking to one of the younger teachers whose sister I had taught, I asked how the sister was doing. The teacher opened her mouth to tell me and then finally said, “Just pray. That’s all I can say. Just pray.” She did mention that the sister and all of her children live with their parents now. So that meant two unspoken prayer requests for the church list. Neither of these would I know anything about if I hadn’t changed my plans about where to eat or if our original plans for the trip to Dallas had not been “messed up.” God’s hand was definitely in both situations.

Thinking of the Bible, there are several times that God put a person in exactly the right time and place even though it might not have been the person’s original plan. Think of Joseph and his life. The children of Israel likely would have died out had Joseph not been sold as a slave to Egypt. Then another time, the Jews would have all been killed except for Esther’s position in the palace. And what if Ruth had remained in Moab instead of going on to Israel with Naomi? God certainly led her to the right field to glean from. Maybe you think that these all have to do with the Old Testament and the Israelite people, not us in modern day America. But think about what it means about Jesus. Jesus was a Jew. Ruth was one of his direct ancestors. Yes, God could have figured out another way, but He had a reason for His way to begin with.

Let’s look at a New Testament example. Check out Acts 8:4-40. After Jesus ascended to the Father, the disciples remained in Jerusalem for a while and then began to spread the Word to the Samaritans. Philip was one that God used to spread the Word. Then God told him to go south to Gaza. That’s where Philip found the Ethiopian eunuch reading Esaias the prophet. Since the man didn’t understand what he read, Philip took time to explain. The man ended up believing in Christ and being baptized. It was possibly through this Gentile convert that the gospel first began to be spread in other areas. What if Philip had refused to go when God told him to go?

Do we sometimes refuse to do what God nudges us to do? Are we quenching the Spirit? The next time that you feel like saying something to someone or changing plans out of the blue, ask yourself if God may be leading you in a particular direction so that you will be in the right place at the right time for His will.

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis 37:28; 41:39-41; Ruth; Esther 2:21-23; 4:14; Acts 8:4-40

PRAYER: “Lord, thank You that You do direct our paths and put us in the right place at the right time. Help me be aware of Your nudges more often and help me respond correctly to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen”

RESPONSE: Do you sometimes feel the Spirit nudging you to do or say something? Do you act on it? Be more aware of when you may be in the right place at the right time.