In the Hand of God-Trusting God to do What I Can't

I had an encounter with God today in the form of a 7th grade boy. I do not know his story or where he is now, but he has touched me forever.

It started yesterday when a young man knocked at our door looking for a friend's house. The house number was only two less than ours, but he wasn't sure of the street. I directed him to the house next to us or behind us and didn't think much more of it until we saw him walking around an hour later. We were on our way to swim practice and I pulled over and asked him if he had found his friend. It was getting dark and I was concerned with his lost look. He said no and after some further discussion, I discovered that he was looking for a house in the division behind us (they have the same name, one North and one South). I gave him directions and offered him a ride, but he refused much as I expected him to. He stayed on my mind and I prayed for him several times that night.

This morning there was a knock at our door and it was the same young man. He said that he still hadn't found his friend's house. At this point I became concerned and invited him in. After some questions and patience, I discovered that he had run away from home and had spent the night in one of the unfinished houses in our neighborhood. It was very cold last night with fierce winds and snow. He was waiting for his friend to be out of school so he could go look again. I felt my heart breaking for him and knew that I would do whatever I could to help. He agreed to my calling my pastor and getting some advice. As I expected, my pastor said that I should contact authorities. I talked to the young man some more and he agreed that it would be okay. While we waited, the young man prayed with me. When the police arrived, they shared that his mother had been on the phone with them all morning. His family had recently moved to a nearby town and he was struggling with the change. The police then left with him.

I do not know where that young man is now, but I have been praying for him most of the day. I believe with all my heart that God brought him to my door yesterday and that it was God's voice encouraging me to talk to him again when we saw him wandering. Although I do not know what happens now, I know that God is right there with him. I may never hear the end of this story, but I take comfort in the fact that God is holding him safely in His arms.