It was completely unexpected. I was sitting there trying to relax and be in my own zone despite that the room was pretty full. I didn’t have my headphones in this time… and I smiled and was polite when I walked into the sauna, so I wasn’t completely closed off. She was laying down as I walked in but kindly sat up and offered space for me on her bench. I politely declined, so I sat diagonally across from her. Another lady was in the corner beside me, directly across from her, and there were a few others sprinkled about.
She was very friendly and wanted to have a conversation. Aside from the three of us talking, the others all stayed safely tucked inside of their comfort bubble. That’s fine… She talked about being very social and a full time mom, admitting that she probably was a bit hungry for adult conversation. But after a few minutes of the typical “getting to know you” talk, the conversation took an unexpected turn… As she talked, she teared up… She is having her first mammogram tomorrow due to family history and something of concern coming up in her last doctor appointment, and was very nervous. She kept saying she had a peace about it.. I think as much to convince herself as us. Each time she said she had a peace, she would express one or two more concerns.
The other lady and I were happy to share our experiences, trying to comfort her. In the course of the conversation, she started talking about Jesus and asked if we were believers. Both of us said that we were. Here we were, out of the blue, sitting smack dab in the middle of a divine appointment. You never know when or where it’s going to happen!
More than 15 years ago, I had been reading (praying) the “prayer of Jabez” book and learned of the concept of a “divine appointment”:
‘And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.’
I Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV) ~ The Bible
“Enlarge my territory”… God gave me my first divine appointment in a club in downtown Austin one night when I was out with my friends. I can see the whole scene as if it was yesterday… I went up to the bar for a drink and there was a strange man standing there who tried to start what I thought was a friendly, albeit awkward, conversation. He asked how I was doing, so naturally I responded that I was doing well and asked the same of him in return. His answer, though, was very different… He was not doing well and that was his way of reaching out for help. But I was neither confident in my faith nor strong in my identity then, so I graciously excused myself with a comment about how I hoped things would turn around for him and I retreated in fear. I kicked myself (hard!) later for that!
As I’ve grown over the years, I have tried to press into my discomfort and accept the appointment I’m being given. So, here I am.. in a sauna, having a divine appointment with a woman who is struggling with fear despite her faith.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 18:20 (KJV) ~ The Bible
I wasn’t going to miss this appointment! Despite my introvert discomfort with the fact that we were sitting, dripping sweat, surrounded by several other ladies, in a sauna at the gym, I asked if she’d like me to pray for her. She jumped at the chance, so there I went… jumping in with both feet, praying for a stranger.. but a sister in Christ.
Your OneDegreeToday.Faith challenge for today is to consider what is one small step that you can take to press into fear or discomfort and meet a need for someone, to accept a divine appointment yourself. I’d love to hear your story of how you meet this challenge!
