Serendipity – Part 1
When I graduated from high school, I was given a book that had a very powerful impact on my life. The name of the book was Serendipity by Wallace Hamilton.
A “serendipity” is something that happens to you on the way to something
else. It kind of happens by
accident—a by-product that occurs when your energy and effort is focused on
something usually higher. The word
comes from the adventures of the three Princes of Serendip, who would go off
on some journey, only to find that it was what happened to them on the way
that brought fulfillment to their lives. Sometimes
they never arrived where they set out to go and really didn’t care.
They were so caught up in the serendipities that happened along the
way, they forgot the reason they went in the first place.
Someone once said, “Life is what happens to you on the way.”
I would like to take the next few devotionals to discuss some
“serendipities” of our faith. Jesus
said, “Seek ye first the
I had a wonderful serendipity happen to me just this past week.
I went to a local bookstore that was going out of business to get some Call
to Live books that had not been sold.
The store owner and I discussed how unfortunate it was the store was
having to close. She then went to
get the books and brought them back to me.
As I was starting to leave, a lady walked up and said, “Sir, did you
write that book?” She had been
standing in the back of the store and had heard our conversation.
“Yes, I did.” I could tell she
was upset and had tears in her eyes.
She looked at me and said, “Does Jesus live in your heart?”
I smiled and said, “Yes, He does. Would
you like a book?”
She accepted and said, “Would you pray for me?
I need Him in my life, too.”
The store owner walked around from behind the counter and we began to pray for
Teresa in the middle of the bookstore. It
was a blessed moment and God entered and met the needs of His child.
Now when I walked into that store, I had no idea Teresa was even in there.
I simply came to get some books. I
did nothing except be there when God presented this wonderful serendipity in
my life.
That’s the way God is. Our
journey with Him is exciting and we anxiously look to what lies at the end.
But most of the time, its what happens along the way that makes the
difference. I thank God today for
Teresa, a serendipity from God in my life.
I gave her a card with this website address.
Teresa, if you read this devotional, know that I am praying for you and thank
God for the presence He has in your life!
Whatever you are facing, you are not alone.
God will provide the strength you need to overcome the obstacles that
lie ahead. Please know that God
has used you to bless my life and I thank Him for you.