An Encouraging Story About How My Friend Found Jesus

My wife and I were recently able to witness a friend of ours give his life to Christ. It was such a blessing to be able to watch part of his journey, this is such an encouraging story about how my friend found Jesus that I wanted to share it with you here. I have learned so much from observing the way that God reached him.

Here is an encouraging story about how my friend found Jesus:

During his lunch break one day, this friend of ours went out to grab some food at a local restaurant. As he was standing in line waiting to place his order, an older homeless woman walked in the store to use the restroom. She finished up and was about to exit the restaurant when a young woman standing in line in front of our friend called out to her. The woman in line told the homeless woman to come to the counter and to order whatever she wanted. The young woman then told this homeless woman that she just wanted her to have something to eat today.Our friend stood there and watched these events unfold, and he became overwhelmed with joy as he witnessed God’s love being acted out through a human being. His spirit leapt inside of him. This young woman was completely unaware that she had reached our friend in such a dynamic way. The next thing we know, he is shaking with joy and calling my wife to try and explain what he was feeling.

He was so moved, that later that day my wife led him in a prayer to give his life to Jesus.

Here is the amazing thing to me. This man has come to church with us several times. He has heard some of the most dynamic preachers on the planet. Every time he left church, some seeds had been planted in him, but he was still questioning whether or not he even believed in God. It took that young woman, in one act of genuine, Godly love, to forever touch our friend’s heart. It reminds me of something that Chip Ingram said,

"A dislocated heart is a God given concern for others that propels us out of our comfort zone. It is a passionate concern for God’s agenda that supersedes our own desires for personal peace and prosperity" (Holy Ambition Part 1 by Chip Ingram).

I can easily put myself in the place of that young woman. I can imagine the voice of the enemy in her head saying things like, “That woman is homeless because she deserves to be. She isn’t going to truly appreciate you doing this for her. Besides, you don’t have $10 extra to buy her lunch. What are you trying to prove? You are going to make yourself look foolish to everyone around you, and you are going to make them mad when you hold up the line.”The only thing that enabled that woman to drown out the voice of the enemy in that situation was the love of God in her heart. Her heart broke for what breaks God’s heart, and she was able to look at that homeless woman with compassion and love. She may never know the impact that her obedience had on our friend, or the impact that it will hopefully have on everyone reading this post.