A woman driving by the cemetery on her way to keep an appointment noticed a very sad looking old man slumped on a bench near a new grave. Her first thought was to stop and see if he was alright. However, remembering the importance of the appointment she drove on.
On the way back past the cemetery the woman saw that the old man was still there, looking as sorrowful as before so this time she stopped.
As she got closer she realised that he was deep in prayer. She didn’t feel she should disturb him so busied her self pretending to look at graves; as if looking for one in particular.
He remained in prayer for a long time and she continued moving amongst the rows of graves waiting until he finished.
Suddenly the woman gasped in surprise. The name on the grave in front of her was that of the very person her family had been enquiring about recently because they hadn’t seen him for a long time and had heard that he’d been sick.
In a way it was a relief to know the truth, rather than to wonder.
The kind woman said a little prayer for the family of the deceased and for the old man still praying then moved back toward the car park.
She was starting to smell that nice hot cup of tea at home.
When she was about to get into her car, a male voice from a car next to hers asked, “Did she find what she was looking for”? How perfectly God leads and guides the believer into all truth. He sees the big picture while we often only see part of it.
In 1 Peter 3: 14-15 Peter says, if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
The lady who stopped at the cemetery’s heart was prepared; ready to do God’s will.
She was not afraid of failure or embarrassment in case she’d got it wrong.
She was sensitive to the situation. Although things didn’t work out the way she thought, (the old man seeming not to need her that day), she remained open and responsive to the Spirit at work in her.
Every time she drives past the cemetery she still looks out for the old man but has never seen him since.
However, she has a peace about his needs being met because God put him across her path. She prays for him often.
The discovery of the relative’s grave was a blessing from God because in her own strength she didn’t even think to look at the cemetery for him. She was able to bring closure to the families concerns and even strengthen extended family relations.
When the man in the car park, “asked of her” she had an answer for him. The woman had long ago found what she had been looking for. She had the readiness that Paul spoke of in the above text to give her testimony; to speak of the hope, love and compassion God had placed in her heart so that souls might be saved.
God knows the needs of each one of us better than we do.
It isn’t necessary for us to see the big picture; we just have to go out amongst them unafraid and unconcerned of what the end result may be.
God reassured the Prophet Isaiah, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
We have to trust that God knows what he’s doing.
He is the one that works on the hearts; does the saving and adds to the church in his perfect timing.
Testimony by Sandra Grabar
Written by Margaret De Vercelli
