God's Timing

Rachel Ruth 

Am I making a difference in people's lives? Do the actions I take in faith with hope of being a good example rub off on anyone? How come doing what is right leaves you lonely sometimes? 

I remember like it was yesterday. Fall semester of my junior year at Pepperdine University, I was wrestling with all the questions above. One Saturday evening my roommates and I were chatting away, discussing our feelings and challenging one another to reflect on how the way we live out life is impacting others. Wrapped up in conversation, we lost track of time and evening quickly turned into late night. My roommates and I had plans to go out, but I decided to stay in, revel in the quiet atmosphere and sort through my thoughts. I did not reach any conclusions that weekend, the questions I had been pondering were still lingering in my mind, but come Monday- all was about to change. As far as I was concerned, Monday, December 6, 2010, was going to be a regular day. I woke up, got dressed, made my tea, grabbed my books and started towards class. Everything about my day was normal until I got a phone call, late afternoon, requesting me to stop by the student center to pick up a floral arrangement in my name. Puzzled, yet filled with happiness, I waltzed down to the student center thinking who these flowers could be from and why I am receiving them.

Upon arriving to the student center, I was taken aback by the beautiful flower arrangement that awaited me. Neatly arranged and well assorted, the flowers in the vase had an excellent presentation. The woman at the desk verified my name and handed over the lovely flowers. I happily made my way toward the door when I realized the handwritten note attached to the arrangement did not have a signature.

The note read, “Rachel- You are wonderful! Thanks for being a blessing!”

Retracing my steps, I returned to the desk and inquired whom the flowers were from. The kind woman smiled at me and said, “The sender requested to remain anonymous.” Hmmm, alright- I started toward the door again only to find myself back at the front desk. “Excuse me,” I said, “Could you tell me if the flowers were from a boy or a girl?” (Since I was single, I was curious if the flowers were from a potential suitor or a gal pal) Apparently the anonymous giver was adamant about remaining a secret because the woman hesitantly confessed it was from a girl. After confronting all the obvious suspects and receiving a unanimous, “No, it wasn’t me!” I accepted the mystery and cherished the beauty of the situation—for it was in the unknown that the answer to my questions laid.

You see, it’s ok to wonder whether or not you’re making a difference, it’s ok to question whether your actions are impacting others, and it’s ok to be intentional about your good efforts in doing right. But just because you don’t always see the fruit of your efforts, it doesn’t mean you are not making a difference.

Be encouraged that “the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, [measures efforts and influence on a human scale] but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 

Receiving those anonymous flowers was God’s way of catering to my personality and communicating to me that I shouldn’t let those questions weigh me down because I am making a difference, most of the time when I don’t even know it.