On Friday night I woke up in a fine mood, but by the time I was done with school it had progressed to be a miserable, anxious one. That night I had a Bible study and I wanted to be in a good mood for it—not to mention, the weather was gorgeous, super sunny and warm, and there was little reason for me to be feeling that way, despite the anxiety.

Because I’d been inside all day, I decided to get out of the house, go to Starbucks, and go to the library or walk around downtown. When I pulled into the Starbucks parking lot, I saw a middle-aged woman standing on the street corner holding a sign that read, “In God’s name, please help. Anything is appreciated,” and something about her children on the sign.

As I was sitting in my car in the parking lot, I was staring at this woman and thinking out loud: Is this God moving? Is this a sign? Is He telling me to buy coffee for her instead of myself?

I wanted to walk over and talk to her, but I was terrified. I don’t talk to strangers on purpose, I personally have never bought something for a homeless person, and I wasn’t sure what I was doing.

I knew that if I didn’t buy her a drink, I’d regret not doing so but I also was overthinking this—until she began walking away.

“Okay God I guess we’re talking to her.”

Why did her walking away prompt me? Because I felt God pushing me and He knew that I couldn’t just watch her walk away.

So I jumped out of my car and called out, “Ma’am! Excuse me.” She turned around and I apologized, “I’m sorry, I don’t have any cash on me. But can I buy you a drink?”

She nodded and began explaining (not in English) that she didn’t speak English, only Italian. So I got out my phone and pulled up Google Translate (thank God for Google Translate, right?) and asked her what drink she would like as we were walking into Starbucks. She told me and I placed the order, and while we were waiting, she showed me pictures of her three children—a boy around six years old and two little girls, a toddler and a baby.

After we had gotten her drink and were walking back to where she was, she explained in Italian that she didn’t have a job and was unable to get one because she didn’t speak English, thus, she couldn’t feed her children because she didn’t have a job, and she didn’t have the documents she needed (documents for what, I wasn’t able to pick out).

I told her goodbye, gave her a hug, and told her I was praying for her, and she told me, “God bless, I love you,” and we parted ways.

Now that I was back in my car, I thought about that experience.

Ten minutes ago I had been thinking about me, myself, and I—my future, anxiety, and all the uncertainties in life. But this woman, she had a whole life of uncertainty ahead of her whereas I have a job I can fall back on, parents who are supportive, and have the resources to get an education.

God smacked me upside the head and said, “Kid, for once, look around at the people around you. I love you, but you’re going to be fine, now it’s time to turn your focus onto someone else.”

I am the last person to talk to a stranger, and I know that if I had been aware she didn’t speak English, I wouldn’t have talked to her. Not because I’m prejudice or have something against her language or heritage, but rather because I wouldn’t know how to communicate and it’s another level of uncertainty or confusion.

A language barrier won’t be your biggest obstacle—but a fearful, avoidant mindset could be if you let it.

When you let fear of discomfort get in the way, you are postponing the opportunity for blessings to step into your life.

I personally am still learning to say, “Yes,” when God tells me, “Go.”

In my post “You Came Back,” I write about the importance of listening to when God says to move and to step into discomfort to make way for his goodness. While you might feel discomfort in the moment of doing what God calls you to do, I promise you this: you will not regret doing what He tells you to do.

Never once have I ever said, “I regret talking to them,” or “Why did I listen?!” or “I should have stayed away.”

What God prompts you to do will always be something worth doing.

As I close out this post, I want to encourage you to listen to the voice that’s saying, “Go talk to them,” or “Buy them a drink,” or even just, “Ask how their day is going.” You might see God working through both of you.

‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great day.
~Willow